Page 516 - Politics
Private temple declares OPS son as Theni MP before counting of votes
Even before the completion of polling for the Lok Sabha elections, a private temple in Theni district in Tamil Nadu created controvery with its plaque designating AIADMK's candidate for Theni seat P. Raveendranath Kumar as an MP.
Trump says he hopes for no war as US-Iran tensions escalate
President Donald Trump says he hopes the US is not on a path to war with Iran amid fears that his two most hawkish advisers could be angling for such a conflict with the Islamic Republic. Asked Thursday if the US was going to war with Iran, the president replied, "I hope not" a day after he repeated a desire for dialogue, tweeting, "I'm sure that Iran will want to talk soon." The tone contrasted with a series of moves by the US and Iran that have sharply escalated tensions in the Middle East in recent days. For the past year, national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have been the public face of the administration's "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran. On Friday, an official with Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard warned that Iranian missiles can "easily reach warships" in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere in the Middle East. The semi-official Fars news agency quoted Mohammad Saleh Jokar as saying that Iran's missiles have a range of 2,000 ...
Modi locked up entire cabinet before demonetisation: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi got his entire cabinet locked up before announcing his decision to demonetise high-value currency notes. Addressing a rally in Himachal Pradesh's Solan, Gandhi claimed he was given this information by members of the Special Protection Group (SPG), the agency which guards him. "During demonetisation Narendra Modi put his cabinet under lock and key (taley se band kiya thha) on Race Course Road, he said, referring to the earlier name of the road on which the PM's official residence is located. This the truth, Gandhi said. The SPG people provide me also with security. They told me that do you know that the prime minister of India locked up his entire cabinet, he said. He also criticised Modi over the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). "Countrymen say Modi committed mistakes by implementing demonetisation and the GST. But Modi will never admit it," he said. The small and medium industrialists,
IAF chief Dhanoa flies solo sorties in MiG-21 jet on visit to Sulur
Indian Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa flew a number of solo sorties in MiG-21 fighter aircraft in Sulur, Coimbatore over the last few days.MiG-21s are one of the oldest aircraft in the Air Force fleet. Most of them are on the verge of being phased out from the inventory of the Air Force. The aircraft played a stellar role in Kargil war by bombing enemy supply lines.Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa commanded the 17 squadron during Kargil war which had MiG-21s.Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, flying a MiG 21 fighter plane had shot down a Pakistani Air Force F-16 during the aerial confrontation on February 26.On February 26, IAF launched an attack on terror camps of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad in Balakot, less than two weeks after the Pulwama attack which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.On February 27, a day after the IAF bombed the terrorist camps, PAF attempted to carry out an attack on Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack was foiled by IAF ..
Rahul takes swipe at Modi for not taking questions at press conference
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday took swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not answering a single question during his first press conference on the completion of five years in office.
Modi brushes off Pragya's Godse remarks in last poll rally
Prime Minister Narendra Modi brushed aside his party's embarrassment over the controversy sparked by Bhopal BJP candidate Pragya Thakur's comments praising Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse, as he addressed his last rally of the general election on Friday in Madhya Pradesh, exuding confidence about the ruling BJP-led NDA winning over 300 seats.
Shah rejects opposition charge of BJP lowering political discourse during poll campaign
BJP president Amit Shah Friday rejected allegations of opposition parties that the saffron party had lowered the standard of discourse during the election campaign, claiming that most of his party leaders in their speech concentrated on development and devoted barely three-four minutes to give "political replies". Addressing a press conference, Shah challenged everyone to analyse the speeches of BJP leaders to find out how most of the content revolved around "vikas" (development). "Analyse any of their speeches. Out of the 40 minute speeches there would be 29-36 minutes would be on development issues and around 3-4 minutes would be political response. Unfortunately, only that part would be highlighted to drive TRPs and to make headlines. What can we do?" he said. He said that the public has not only listened to the issues but have accepted them as well. "We got historic mandate in 2014. We started our election campaign from January 16...Our target was to win the 120 Lok Sabha seats ...
Indian Navy carries out maiden 'cooperative engagement firing' of MRSAM
Indian Navy on Friday announced that it has achieved a significant milestone in enhancing its Anti-Air Warfare Capability with the maiden cooperative engagement firing of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM)."The firing was undertaken on the Western Seaboard by Indian Naval Ships Kochi and Chennai wherein the missiles of both ships were controlled by one ship to intercept different aerial targets at extended ranges. The firing trial was carried out by the Indian Navy, DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries," Navy said in a statement."These Surface to Air Missiles are fitted onboard the Kolkata Class Destroyers and would also be fitted on all future major warships of the Indian Navy. With the successful proving of this cooperative mode of engagement, the Indian Navy has become a part of a select group of Navies that have this niche capability," the statement added.The capability significantly enhances the combat effectiveness of the Indian Navy thereby providing an operational
Re-polling ordered at Azamgarh booth on May 19
The Election Commission on Friday ordered re-polling to be conducted at a booth in Azamgarh during the seventh and last phase of general elections on May 19.In a statement, the EC said re-polling would be conducted at booth number 337 located at Karaut in Mubarakpur. Polling would be conducted from 7 am to 6 pm on Sunday, EC said.Alleging misconduct by a polling official at a booth here, the Samajwadi Party (SP) had written to the EC raising concern over the same. The SP alleged that at booth number 57, set up at Primary School Mustafabad of Mehnagar Assembly constituency, the polling officer was casting votes on behalf of elder women and senior citizens.Addressing a press conference here today, Uttar Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer L Venkateshwar Loo said the EC has decided to honour magistrates of the districts that witness "good" voter turnout in the Lok Sabha elections.He also appealed to the people to exercise their franchise in the elections, adding that EC officials are ...
At party presser, Modi takes no question; Rahul says 'well done'
At a rare press conference as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi took no questions but expressed confidence about coming back to power with increased majority.Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who has often criticised Modi for not addressing media during his tenure, was quick in taking a jibe over the media interaction at the BJP headquarters called at the end of Lok Sabha campaign."I am a disciplined soldier. In our party, the president is everything," Modi said directing questions put to him to party president Amit Shah after a reporter enquired if she can ask the Prime Minister something.As Shah kept replying to questions, another reporter sought to put a supplementary to Modi. Shah shot back to the reporter saying the question has been answered and the prime minister need not answer queries on everything.Soon after the media interaction was over, Gandhi took a dig at the Prime Minister in a tweet."Congratulations Modi Ji. Excellent Press Conference! Showing up is half the battle. Next
PM Modi is shedding crocodile tears over Pragya's Godse remark: Digvijaya Singh
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shedding crocodile tears over Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's statement that Nathuram Godse, who killed Mahatma Gandhi, was a "patriot.""Prime Minister Modi is the one who had made Thakur the party's Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal. The Prime Minister's crocodile tears will not work. He must take away her candidature and voting right. Every person who talks against Mahatma Gandhi should be deprived of his voting right," said Singh while speaking to media persons here.After the opposition parties questioned the Prime Minister's silence on Thakur's remarks on Godse, Modi said that he would never forgive Sadhvi Pragya for insulting Bapu by calling Nathuram Godse a patriot."The statements given about Gandhi Ji or Godse are very bad and wrong for the society. She has (Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur) apologised but I will never forgive her," Prime Minister Modi had said in an interview with the news channel --
BJP's responsibility to bring out corruption embroiled within Oppn: Shah
Denying BJP's hand in the violence during his roadshow in Kolkata, party president Amit Shah on Friday said it is the ruling party's responsibility to "bring out" corruption embroiled within the Opposition."BJP workers did not provoke any violence. It is our responsibility to bring out the corruption that the Opposition has been embroiled in. If they name it lowering the bar of politics, it is incorrect," Shah told reporters at a press conference held in the party headquarters, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.In an unprecedented action, the Election Commission on Wednesday invoked Article 324 of the Constitution to cut short the last phase of campaigning in West Bengal by a day after Shah's roadshow took a violent turn.During the mayhem, the bust of iconic social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was also vandalised at a college named after him.Questioning West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's silence in the murder of BJP workers in the state, Shah ...
Naidu targets EC, calls it 'biased body'
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday hit out the Election Commission, calling it a 'biased body' which gave "controversial and pro-government decisions". "As on today, EC decisions are very controversial, they are pro-establishment, pro-government. And also if you see for the last many days, all these days they are supporting the government," Naidu told reporters here.He made the remarks after a meeting with Chief Election Commission Sunil Arora regarding repolling in five polling stations under the Chittoor parliamentary constituency in Andhra Pradesh on May 19.The TDP chief said, "It is unfortunate that we are fighting against the EC. In Andhra Pradesh, they ordered repolling in five polling stations. I do not want repolling, I want the EC to be transparent. The way the EC is working, I am questioning that as a senior politician of the country. I have never seen such attitude of the EC in the last 25 years of my political career."Naidu also accused the poll ...
Forces on high alert after recovery of hand-drawn maps of air bases from terrorists
A high alert has been sounded at Srinagar and Avantipora air base in Jammu and Kashmir after security forces recovered hand-drawn maps of these air bases from terrorists, government sources said on Friday."Hand drawn maps of the Srinagar and Avantipur air bases have been recovered from terrorists by the security forces after which a high alert has been sounded there," government sources told ANI.The security forces had recovered these maps from terrorists yesterday.These bases have been at the target of terrorists for a long time but threat perception has enhanced significantly after the Balakot airstrikes, they said.The sources further stated that the terrorists are planning to carry out attacks in Srinagar and Awantipora air bases.Security forces are on high alert in and around these bases.The air base was at the forefront when Pakistani fighter jets tried to carry out a counter strike on Indian soil a day after the Balakot air strikes.On February 27, Wg Cdr Abhinandan took off from
Crime reporter shot dead in Mexico
A crime reporter, who was working under a federal protection program, was shot dead here on Thursday, making him the fifth journalist to have been killed this year in the Latin American country.The Mexican police discovered the body of the reporter, identified as Francisco Romero, on a pavement outside a nightclub in his hometown of Playa del Carmen along Mexico's Caribbean coast, Al Jazeera reported.Romero ran a Facebook-based news site called "Ocurrio Aqui" that covered local politics and crime and had more than 17,000 followers. He was also working for one of the state's leading newspapers, Quintana Roo Hoy.The state prosecutor's office opened a homicide investigation earlier saying Romero had filed a complaint on April 12 over threats he had received. However, the source of those threats was not specified.Meanwhile, Romero's wife Veronica Rodriguez reportedly said her husband had regularly received threats over his work, the latest being two weeks ago, which sometimes rubbed local
Journalists were prevented from entering PM's PC: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that journalists were prevented from entering the press conference of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah here."I was told that doors have been locked to prevent journalists who want to enter. I asked Randeep ji to send some journalist from our side. He said he cannot as doors are locked," said Gandhi.Referring to Modi's reluctance to address the press, Gandhi said: "Congratulations Modi Ji. Showing up is half the battle. Next time Mr Shah may even allow you to answer a couple of questions."Held days before the conclusion of elections on May 19, Gandhi termed the PM's press conference "unprecedented" and said: "Very good, very impressive. PM's first press conference happens 4-5 days before election results."Asking PM Modi to answer the press about the Rafale deal, Gandhi said: "Since he is live at the press conference, let me ask him why he did not debate with me on the Rafale.""I challenged you to talk about Anil Ambani.
Will resign if those guilty of desecration of religious scriptures not punished: Sidhu
Punjab minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu said Friday that he would resign if the punishment was not given to those involved in desecration of religious scriptures. Though he did not clarify whether he would resign from the cabinet or the party. Addressing a poll rally in favour of Congress' Bathinda candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Sidhu lashed out at the Badal family for allegedly "ruining" Punjab during the previous SAD-BJP regime. On the last day of poll campaigning, Sidhu addressed several elections rallies in Bathinda, which is considered a stronghold of the Akali Dal. "I had earlier left Rajya Sabha seat (when he was in the BJP)," Sidhu told the gathering. He claimed that the BJP in 2014 had asked him to leave the Amritsar seat and contest from other parliamentary constituency. "If a punishment is not given to the guilty of sacrilege (of religious scriptures) and if Guru does not get respect... Sidhu will resign," said state's tourism and cultural affairs ...
Parties including TMC, SP, BSP, TDP won't support BJP: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday exuded confidence that a secular formation will win the maximum number of seats in this Lok Sabha polls indicating that opposition parties will come together to form the next government and said that regional parties like TMC, SP, BSP and TDP will not support the BJP. He, however, said he will not pre-judge the verdict of the people and launched an all-out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having lost the opportunity given by the people to take the country forward. Refusing to spell out the opposition's strategy ahead of the Lok Sabha poll results on May 23, Gandhi told a press conference that unlike Modi, the Congress will use the experience of veterans such as UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh. He was asked what role Sonia Gandhi will play in bringing together opposition parties to form the next government, amid talks of the UPA chairperson asking its top leaders to talk to various leaders and hold a
Rajasthan Cong leaders flay removal of picture from school textbook
The Rajasthan government's decision to remove a picture suggesting self-immolation from a school textbook has drawn flak from two leaders from the state's ruling party, including a minister. The Congress government has tasked a committee to make changes in the textbooks introduced by the previous BJP government. The panel had recommended the removal of a picture suggesting self-immolation under Sati or Jauhar from a Class 8 English textbook. It was replaced with that of a hill fort. "We need to understand the practice of Jauhar. Without understanding the sensitive issue, any leader, be it from the Congress or the BJP, should refrain from making a statement," said state Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas. "Being on a ministerial post, we cannot change history. We should not make the mistakes which the BJP made," he told reporters Friday. Former MP and state Congress vice-president Gopal Singh Idwa too expressed his disagreement with the decision. "It will not be right to ...
BJP to form full majority government: Modi (Third Lead)
Appearing at a rare press conference in last five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed confidence about the BJP to returning to power with full majority but did not take any questions.