Page 504 - Politics
Rahul hails women for playing key role in LS polls
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hailed women for playing a key role in the general elections and said the voices of"mothers and sisters"must be heard. His remarks came as polling began for the final phase of the polls in 59 seats to decide the fate of 918 candidates including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking to retain the Varanasi seat in Uttar Pradesh. "Today is the 7th and last phase of polling. Our mothers and sisters have played a key role in these elections, not just as candidates, but also as committed voters whose voices must be heard. I salute them all," Gandhi said. Earlier,Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted:"Do vote in the last phase of the general elections to make the country liberal and progressive." "One vote, will make the future of the youth empowered. One vote, will take the farmers towards loan waiver. One vote, will take small traders towards profit. One vote, will get the deprived 'Nyay' (justice)," he said.
Voices of women must be heard, says Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hailed the role played by women in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections not just as candidates but also as voters and said that their voices must be heard.
Don't go too far, Chinese Foreign Minister tells Pompeo
China's State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Washington "not to go too far" in its measures that threatened Chinese interests in a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Compare Bengal, UP: Yogi's barb at Mamata over poll violence
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday exuded confidence of getting full majority in the Lok Sabha elections asserting that BJP will be winning over 300 seats on its own. He also took a jibe at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over poll violence and asked for a comparison of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, both of which voted in all the seven phases of national polls.He also commended people for participating in the "festival of democracy" while stating that the elections campaign for the polls was entirely centred around Prime Minister Modi.Speaking to ANI, Adityanath said, "BJP will achieve the target of more than 300 seats in the country and if we combine allies, we will get over 400 seats. In Uttar Pradesh, we will get over 74 seats.""After independence, this is the first election where the whole campaign was around Modi ji only. After opposition ran out of issues, they started making personal attacks. This is the first election in which cast and religious barriers ...
TMC workers behaving like 'jihadis' and 'terrorists': CK Bose
BJP Lok Sabha candidate from South Kolkata constituency CK Bose, on Sunday said that TMC workers were behaving like "terrorists" and "jihadis" in West Bengal."Last night, I was getting calls from my workers from different booths that they have been threatened by TMC's 'jihadi' brigade that if you sit as booth agents for BJP, you'll be murdered. There's no difference between a terrorist organisation and TMC," Bose told ANI here.Bose also accused TMC workers of attacking him on April 24, when he was on his way to file nomination papers.West Bengal went to polls in all phases of the elections, with the seventh phase of polling underway today. Votes are due to be counted on May 23.All six phases of ongoing polls in West Bengal were marred with violence. Last week, a convoy of West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh and Assam Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma was allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters in Khejuri area of Purba Medinipur district.
TMC writes to EC over PM's Kedarnath visit
The TMC wrote to the Election Commission Sunday alleging the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath is a violation of the model code of conduct. "Even though the Election campaign for the last phase of polling for 2019 Lok Sabha is over as long as back on May 17 at 6 pm, surprisingly Narendra Modi's Kedarnath Yatra is being covered and widely televised for the last two days in all national as well as local media. This is a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct," Trinamool Congress spokesperson Derek O'Brien said in the letter. He said the prime minister even announced that the master plan for the Kedarnath Temple is ready and also addressed the public and the media at the temple town. "lt is absolutely unethical and morally incorrect. "Every minute detail of his activities during the visit is being widely publicised with an ulterior motive to influence voters directly and/or indirectly. "Modi Modi" chants are also being heard from the ...
Nitish condemns Pragya's 'Godse' remark
BJP ally and JD-U chief Nitish Kumar on Sunday lashed out at Bharatiya Janta Party candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur for her statement in favour of Mahatma Gandhi assassin Nathuram Godse, and said that he "would not tolerate such remarks".
Modi spends night in Kedarnath cave, thanks EC
After spending night Saturday night meditating inside a cave, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday morning again offered prayers at the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand.
Have a special relation with Kedarnath: Modi
After offering prayers at Kedarnath shrine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday interacted with media and said his mission is to carry out developmental work in the region."My mission here is that we should look into 'prakriti, pariyavaran' and 'pariyatan' (nature, environment, and tourism). Fortunately, I have a hard-working team. I thank the media also for covering this region as it will help to boost tourism here. I usually take a stock of progress made in this area via video conferencing," Modi said.When asked if he prayed for his victory in the Lok Sabha elections, the Prime Minister said, "I did not ask for anything from Baba Kedarnath. God has made us self-sufficient beings who are able to give rather than ask."Urging citizens to travel India he said, "I want people of our nation to see the country. While I do not have any objection to them travelling to foreign countries but they should also travel to see the different places in our country."The Prime Minister also said ...
Confident of my victory; people want to make 'Modi ji' PM again: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday expressed confidence that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be able to secure victory in the Lok Sabha elections and also cast his vote in the ongoing seventh phase of the elections."I cast my vote just now, the public are with us (BJP). The mood of Patna Sahib is the same as that of the rest of the country, people want to make Modi ji the Prime Minister again," Prasad told reporters outside his polling booth after casting his vote.Prior to casting his vote Prasad, who was accompanied by his 88-year old mother, expressed the confidence that he will win."I am going to cast my vote, which is my democratic right. The country will achieve new levels of growth in the coming days. I am confident of my victory as always," Prasad told reporters at the time of leaving his house.The BJP fielded Prasad against Congress leader and sitting MP from Patna Sahib Shatrughan Sinha. Sinha, a two time MP from the same seat is seeking re-election for the third .
Substantiate 'goon' remark with proof else will drag you to court: Mamata's nephew to PM Modi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew and TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have to substantiate statements made by him while addressing a rally in Diamond Harbour on May 15, with proof.Abhishek on Saturday sent a defamation notice to Modi for the alleged derogatory remarks made against him at a public rally on May 15 in Diamond Harbour."Whatever he (Prime Minister) said in meeting on May 15 in Diamond Harbour, he has to substantiate those statements with ample proof and justify what he said. If he fails to do so I will sue him in the criminal and defamation cases. I will drag him to the court and do the needful," Banerjee told reporters.Dubbing all the allegations against Abhishek as "slanderous, malicious and false," Banerjee's lawyer Sanjay Basu on May 18 said, "In your speech, you referred to my client as a 'Gunda' or 'goon'. Such statements, other than being attempts to deceive the public through rhetoric, are ...
Urging people to vote in record numbers in this phase: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people, especially first-time voters, to exercise their democratic right in the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha elections."Today is the final phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. I urge all those voting in this phase to vote in record numbers. Your one vote will shape India's development trajectory in the years to come. I also hope first-time voters vote enthusiastically," Modi tweeted.A total of 918 candidates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are in the fray in this last phase of ongoing polls. The Prime Minister is seeking re-election from Varanasi and is contesting against Ajay Rai of the Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Shalini Yadav.Polling for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections began on Sunday in 59 seats spread across seven states and one Union Territory in the country. The counting of voting will begin on May 23.
Heavyweights cast vote in seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls
With polling for seventh phase of elections underway in 59 parliamentary constituencies of the country, many political heavyweights voted in their respective constituencies.Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was among the early voters at polling booth number 246 in Gorakhpur. He arrived at the polling booth as soon as voting started.Adityanath was accompanied by Ravi Kishan, the BJP candidate from the constituency, and appealed to people to vote in large numbers.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar voted at booth number 326 at a school in Raj Bhawan, Patna.Kumar also spoke against the long duration of elections and said, "Elections should not be held over such a long duration, there was a long gap between each phase of voting. I will write to leaders of all parties to build a consensus on this."Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi also cast his ballot in Patna.Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad also reached booth number 77 in Patna Women's College to cast ...
Russia, Turkey to initiate talks on joint production of S-500 defence system: Erdogan
Ankara and Moscow would initiate talks on the joint production of S-500 air defence system, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, adding that the purchase of the S-400 system from Russia was "complete".The two countries had signed a loan agreement for the delivery of the S-400 system in December 2017 after engaging in hectic negotiations for a year. The move was highly criticised by the United States and NATO, reported Sputnik."The S-400 deal is completed. Under the contract, the deliveries are to begin in July or, maybe, even earlier. Russia has offered us very good conditions. After that, we will talk about the S-500, including joint production [of these systems], as well as S-400," Erdogan said at a meeting with the youth, as broadcast by the NTV channel.The development is likely to further strain the already fragile US-Turkey relations.Pentagon has repeatedly said that it may eliminate Turkey form a programme on creating F-35 multi-role fighters over the latter's deal to ...
EVM malfunction reported at booth in Patna Sahib LS constituency
As polling for the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections is underway in seven states and one union territory, EVM malfunction reported at booth number 6 at Pant Nagar in Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency.Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha is seeking to retain the seat for a third consecutive term this time and contesting against BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from the seat.Prasad casts his vote at booth number 77 at Patna Women's College. Taking to Twitter before casting vote, Prasad appealed voters to choose a strong, honest and courageous Prime Minister for the country."Today is the last phase of polling for the Lok Sabha elections. I request the voters of the entire country, and especially Patna Sahib, that this is a chance to choose a strong, honest and courageous Prime Minister and one of your votes will determine the direction of the country and the world. For this, once again form the Modi government with heavy votes," the BJP leader said.Eight Lok Sabha ...
10.87 pc polling till 9 am in PM's constituency
The constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi recorded 10.87 per cent polling till 9 am. In this constituency, 18.54 lakh electorates will cast their votes in 1,819 polling booths, of which 273 are categorised as 'critical'. Local administration has set up 145 model booths and one pink booth which will be operated only by women. Authorities have appealed to people to come out in large numbers to cast votes in Varanasi, which had reported 58.35 per cent polling in 2014. All five assembly segments in this constituency are-- Rohaniya, VaranasiNorth,VaranasiSouth,Varanasi Cantonment and Sevapuri. Modi's main challengers are Congress's Ajay Rai and SP-BSP candidate Shalini Yadav. In 2014,Modi had defeated Aam Aadmi PartychiefArvind Kejriwalby a margin of 3.37 lakh. Last time, Modi had got 56.37 per cent votes out of the total polled and there was a swing of 25.85 votes in his favour from 2009, when Murli Manohar Joshi had got 30.5 per cent votes for the BJP. In 2009, the SP and the BSP .
Former CIA chief Brennan to brief Dems on Iran
House Democrats will hear from former CIA director John Brennan about the situation in Iran, inviting him to speak next week amid heightened concerns over the Trump administration's sudden moves in the region. Brennan, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, is scheduled to talk to House Democrats at a private weekly caucus meeting Tuesday, according to a Democratic aide and another person familiar with the private meeting. Both were granted anonymity to discuss the meeting. The invitation to Brennan and Wendy Sherman, the former State Department official and top negotiator of the Iran nuclear deal, offers counterprogramming to the Trump administration's closed-door briefing for lawmakers also planned for Tuesday on Capitol Hill. Democratic lawmakers are likely to attend both sessions. The Trump administration recently sent an aircraft carrier and other military resources to the Persian Gulf region, and withdrew nonessential personnel from Iraq, raising alarm among Democrats ...
10 per cent polling in early hours of voting in UP
Nearly 10 per cent voting was recorded in the first two hours of polling in 13 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, officials said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was among the early voters in Gorakhpur, said, "People are fighting this election for nation's interest and if someone cannot understand this thing, his IQ is questionable. The entire election revolved around Modiji. With big achievements of his government during the last five years, the BJP will win the election. Ram Bhuwal Nishad, the SP-BSP alliance candidate also voted at Daunadih Prathmik Vidyalaya booth number 295 in Gorakhpur at 7.30 AM. Union minister of state for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla also exercised his franchise in Gorakhpur. He said BJP candidate Ravi Kishan will win with more than 3 lakh votes and the BJP will form government at the Centre. The turnout in Varanasi in the first two hours was 9.90 per cent. The highest turnout so far was 13.20 per cent in Mirzapur, while Ballia reported the lowest .
Vote for peace: Punjab CM
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday appealed to voters to vote for peace as 59 constituencies went to poll in the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections.
Nitish questions long duration of elections
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday after casting his ballot raised questions on the long duration of the general elections which is being held in seven phases.