Page 518 - Politics
Have just 4 questions to ask Modi: Rahul invites PM to debate on corruption
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday dared Narendra Modi to a debate on corruption, saying he has just four questions to ask which the prime minister will not be able to answer. The Congress president threw the challenge on the last day of electioneering while addressing a public meeting at Solan police ground in support of his party's Shimla candidate, Solan MLA Dhani Ram Shandil. "I am ready to engage in debate with Modi on corruption at any place," he said. "Give me 15 minutes, I will ask only four questions. And Modi may take three-four hours to answer. He will not be able to show his face to citizens of the country after the debate," he added. Reiterating his allegations of corruption in Rafale fighter jet deal, Rahul Gandhi said the government struck an overpriced deal for the jets to benefit Anil Ambani. Criticising Modi on demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Congress president said, "The countrymen say Modi committed mistakes by implementing ...
EU extends sanctions against Assad's Syria regime for a year
The European Union is prolonging sanctions against the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad for a year due to its continued crackdown against civilians in the war-ravaged country. EU headquarters said Friday that the 28-nation bloc "decided to maintain its restrictive measures against the Syrian regime and its supporters as the repression of civilian population continues." It means that 270 people and 70 entities like companies or organisations will have travel bans and asset freezes against them extended until June 1, 2020. The sanctions are due to alleged violence against civilians, benefiting from or supporting the regime, or being associated with people who do. The EU has also imposed an oil embargo on Syria and bans equipment that could be used in a crackdown on Syrian civilians.
TDP wants re-poll ordered at 18 polling stations
: Telugu Desam Party Friday sought re-poll in 18 polling stations spread over seven assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh. A delegation of TDP leaders, including ministers and legislators, met Chief Secretary L V Subrahmanyam in the Secretariat and submitted a memorandum in this regard. The TDP alleged irregularities in the polling stations as the opposition YSR Congress resorted to unlawful methods during polling on April 11. As such, it wanted re-poll ordered in the 18 polling stations. The TDPs petition came in the backdrop of a similar petition filed by YSRC MLA Chevireddy Bhaskara Reddy early this month, alleging that a certain section of voters was not allowed to exercise their franchise on April 11 in his Chandragiri Assembly constituency in Chittoor district. After an inquiry, the Election Commission ordered re-poll in five polling stations in Chandragiri on May 19. Taking umbrage to this, the TDP filed a counter petition seeking re-poll in two polling ...
UK warns British-Iranians against all travel to Iran
London warned British-Iranian dual nationals against all travel to Iran on Friday due to Tehran's "continued arbitrary detention and mistreatment" of such citizens. "Dual nationals face an intolerable risk of mistreatment if they visit Iran. Despite the UK providing repeated opportunities to resolve this issue, the Iranian regime's conduct has worsened," Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a statement.
Vidyasagar bust vandalism not political issue: Trinamool
Days after the statue of Bengali polymath Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in Kolkata was vandalised during BJP President Amit Shah's roadshow in the city, West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee on Friday said the Trinamool Congress is not using it as a political issue.
Andhra CM accuses EC of being pro-govt
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP President Chandra Babu Naidu on Friday accused the Election Commission of being pro-establishment and supporting the government.
BJP to form full majority government: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed confidence that the BJP will again get a full majority on its own in the Lok Sabha elections, and it will be the "first instance of a party getting an absolute majority after a full term".
Open to any party, including TRS, joining anti-BJP front: Naidu
TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, who is spearheading an effort to cobble up an anti-BJP front, Friday said not only the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) but any outfit which is against the saffron party are welcome to join a grand alliance after the election results are declared. Naidu has stepped up efforts to bring together parties which are against the BJP ahead of a possible meeting of the grand alliance after the election results are declared on May 23. The Andhra Pradesh chief minister met CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and Aam Admi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday and discussed with them about the possible tie-up in the post-election scenario. According to sources, Naidu is likely to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the national capital and BSP chief Mayawati in Lucknow Saturday. "We welcome not only the TRS but any party which is against the BJP. We are welcoming all such parties to be a part of our grand alliance," Naidu told reporters after
Meet this 'chowkidar' from Varanasi who has boycotted elections all his life
Dressed in a sweat-stained uniform, Lalji Vishwakarma wears a jaded look on his face as he waits the door at an economy hotel near the Varanasi railway station. The 'chowkidar' (watchman) with a slight built and a big moustache sits on a plastic stool in a corner, getting up promptly every now and then to welcome guests with a salute. In between, he also assists the hotel staff in room service, a routine he has followed for the last several decades. Ask him about the election buzz in Varanasi -- his hometown and parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vishwakarma, who has never voted in nearly 70 years of his life, says, "I am just waiting for this poll 'tamasha' (theatrics) to end". "Elections are held time and again, politicians come and go, they urge us to vote for them, they become MLAs, MPs or ministers, but we remain wherever we are," he said, with a note of pessimism in his voice. Born in 1950 in the temple town, Vishwakarma, who has seen multiple ...
EC manipulated polling diaries in South Delhi: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party has alleged that the Election Commission got the polling diaries manipulated by presiding officers in the South Delhi Lok Sabha seat. The returning officer of the South Delhi constituency, however, said it is "misinformation" and no officers were called in this regard to the EC office. AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged about 200-250 presiding officers have been called to the EC office in the last two days and they have been asked to "change sensitive information in the polling diaries". Polling diaries are used to note hourly activity at a booth on the polling day. "These diaries contain sensitive information and we want to know why the Election Commission asked presiding officers to modify the information," Bhardwaj claimed. An election commission official, requesting anonymity, said the officials were called for clarification over new entries in the polling diaries. Raghav Chadha, the AAP candidate from South Delhi, asked why documents are being ...
Fought to protect India's institutions in poll; will win: Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday asserted that the Lok Sabha elections were about protecting the institutions which give "voice to people of this great country" and said that his party has done "A-grade" job fighting the BJP and RSS ideology."I am proud to say that we have fought Narendra Modi and BJP. We have protected the institutions of this country, which is our main duty, from Narendra Modi, the BJP, and the RSS. This fight was about protecting Supreme Court, RBI, the Constitution and all the institutions that make this great country and give voice to people," he said at a press conference here as the campaign came to a close in the Lok Sabha polls.He said, "We have given a good fight (to the BJP). Our strategy was to raise people's issues and we effectively did it. We played A-grade role of the Opposition. We incircled Modi and dismantled his idea. We raise farmers issues. We told to people that Rs 15 lakh cannot be given but 3.6 lakhs can be given in 5 years."Gandhi ..
Modi 'lahar' has turned into Modi 'qahar': Shatrughan Sinha
Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha on Friday claimed that the Narendra Modi wave (lahar) in the country has now turned into chaos against the Prime Minister."Modi lahar has turned into Modi qahar (Modi wave has turned into Modi havoc)," he said at a press conference which was attended by several leaders of the grand alliance, adding that the "gali-gali me shor hai, chowkidar chor hai" was being raised frequently.Launching a scathing attack on BJP chief Amit Shah, Sinha stated that people of Bihar will show him his "aukat" (worth) in the upcoming elections."Amit Shah said he will show Bihari Babu (Sinha) his worth (aukat). The way Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked of Bihar's DNA, people showed him his worth during the assembly elections. After the roadshow that happened today, they (BJP and its allies) will be aware of their worth. And whatever is left, people of Bihar will let them know of their worth in the upcoming elections," he asserted.Sinha claimed that he had to pay a price for
"Conduct ZP chairperson poll within 3 days of ZPTC/MPTC poll
Congress,TDP and other opposition parties in Telangana Friday urged the State Election Commission to hold ZP Chairperson election within three days after votes are counted in the ZPTC and MPTC polls. State Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy, TDP's Telangana unit president L Ramana and other leaders met state election commissioner Nagi Reddy and submitted a memorandum in this regard. They said any long gap in counting of votes and declaration of results in ZPTC and MPTC polls and subsequent election of ZP Chairpersons and Mandal Praja Parishad (MPP) would lead to horse-trading and corrupt practices. The Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTC) elections were held in three phases this month. The counting of votes would be taken up on May 27. Referring to the SEC's reported comments that ZP Chairpersons and MPP would be elected after July 5, the memorandum claimed the long gap would lead to horse-trading to ..
Bitterly fought LS poll campaign ends; voting in final phase on Sunday
Campaigning in the bitterly fought marathon Lok Sabha elections spread over 38 days drew to a close on Friday as top leaders made a final push in the seventh and concluding phase for the remaining 59 seats that included Varanasi where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking to retain the seat. Modi wrapped up his campaign for a second consecutive term predicting the BJP's return to power with a bigger mandate at his first media event since he assumed charge in 2014 while Congress chief Rahul Gandhi indicated that opposition parties will get together to form the next government. The high octane campaign marked by vitriolic attacks and counter-attacks by political leaders and use of derogatory language and objectionable remarks that forced the Election Commission to step in ended at 6 pm. Polling will be held on Sunday in the seventh phase in all 13 seats in Punjab and an equal number of seats in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight seats each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, four in ..
EC should cancel Pragya's candidature from Bhopal: Delhi Cong chief Sheila Dikshit
Congress veteran and former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit Friday demanded that the Election Commission "cancel" Pragya Singh Thakur's candidature from Bhopal for calling Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse a "patriot". Dikshit alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah had "handpicked" Thakur as a party Lok Sabha candidate and said they should also be held "morally accountable" for her "highly condemnable statement". Prime Minister Modi Friday said he will never forgive Thakur for insulting Mahatma Gandhi by calling his assassin Nathuram Godse a patriot. "The Election Commission should cancel the candidature of BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal Pragya Thakur for terming Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse as a patriot," Dikshit, who contested the Lok Sabha elections from the North East Delhi seat, said. "Modi and Shah should have withdrawn her candidature themselves for her toxic statement," she said in a statement. Dikshit also said it was ...
In the eye of the storm, Pragya asked to keep off road show
On a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he can't forgive her for terming Nathuram Godse a patriot, Pragya Singh Thakur was asked by the party to stay away from a road show on the last day of the Lok Sabha poll campaign Friday. The Malegaon blast accused and BJP candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat had reached Burhanpur to participate in the road show for party colleague Nand Kumar Chauhan, pitted against former Union minister and Congress candidate Arun Yadav in the Khandwa Lok Sabha constituency. However, the party asked her to "keep off" from the public, after which she did not lead the road show in MP, a state BJP leader said. As a result, the saffron-clad Thakur stayed put in her hotel room, the leader added. Thakur was unwell and so did not take part in the road show, another state BJP leader said. Modi Friday said he will never forgive Pragya Singh Thakur for insulting Mahatma Gandhi by calling his assassin Nathuram Godse a true patriot. Modi said her comments ..
Iran Foreign Minister urges 'concrete action' from China, Russia to save nuclear deal
Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday urged "friends" including China and Russia to take "concrete action" to safeguard the 2015 nuclear deal as he warned of a "dangerous" situation amid rising tensions with the United States.Zarif, who arrived here on Friday, said that he would talk to the Chinese officials about "bilateral ties and the very dangerous issues that are ongoing in our region today," Al Jazeera reported after citing a video published by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on its official website.Zarif's visit to China comes three days after the Foreign Minister held talks with India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on May 14.In the meeting, India conveyed to Iran that the decision on buying its oil would be taken once the general elections underway in the country are over.The meeting between the two Foreign Ministers had come in the wake of heightened diplomatic tension between Iran and the US after Washington on April 22 announced that no ..
Union minister Hegde, BJP MP Kateel jump into Godse row,
Union minister Anantkumar Hegde and his party lawmaker Nalinkumar Kateel Friday jumped into the Nathuram Godse row with tweets about Mahatma Gandhi's assassin that left the BJP red-faced and triggered outrage. The tweets by Hegde and Kateel, seeking re-election from Karnataka in the Lok Sabha polls, came days after BJPs Bhopal candidate and Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur lauded Godse as a patriot, before her party distanced itself from her remarks. She issued an apology hours later saying she respected Gandhi and his work for the country cannot be forgotten. Joining the Godse debate, Kateel tweeted, "Number of people killed by Nathuram is 1. Number of people Ajmal Kasab killed is 72. Number of people Rajiv Gandhi killed is 17,000. Now you tell me who is the most cruel person?" Another related tweet appeared on union minister of state for skill development and entrepreneurship Anantkumar Hegdes official Twitter handle. Sharing a woman's tweet, Hegdes tweet read,
Showcause issued to 3 BJP leaders for Godse remarks, appropriate action will be taken: Shah
The BJP has issued showcause notices its three leaders, including Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur, over their remarks on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse, party chief Amit Shah said Friday, promising "appropriate action" against them. The entire BJP regrets the remarks and that is why prompt action has been taken, Shah said at a press conference, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside him. The party's disciplinary committee has issued a notice to them and has given 10-days time to respond, he said. "We will immediately decide on appropriate action on them after that," Shah said. The Pandora's box opened on Thursday with BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate and Malegaon blast accused Thakur lauding Godse as a "patriot" and issuing an apology hours later, saying she respected Gandhi and his work for the country cannot be forgotten. As the row over Thakur's remarks escalated, BJP's MP from Karnataka Nalin Kumar Kateel compared Godse with former prime minister Rajiv ...
BJP would face backlash for fielding Pragya Singh Thakur in election: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Friday attacked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for giving Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur a ticket from Bhopal in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections."India will never forgive BJP for giving Sadhi Pragya Thakur a ticket," he said in a tweet responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment on Friday that "I will never be able to forgive Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur".Thakur on Thursday stoked a huge controversy and left the BJP red-faced with her comment that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was a 'true patriot', a statement her party condemned and asked her to apologise for it immediately.The Opposition parties had attacked her saying what she said reflected the mindset of the people nurtured in RSS ideology.Thakur, an accused in the Malegaon blast case, is not new to courting controversies. After being fielded by the BJP in Bhopal, she had said Hemant Karkare, who was killed during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, died because she had ...