Page 526 - Politics
Like 'khaki nikkar,' Nathuram Godse an identity of RSS: Azam Khan
Nathuram Godse is the identity of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) the same way the 'khaki nikkar' is, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan said after BJP's Bhopal candidate Pragya Singh Thakur courted a controversy by calling killer of the Mahatma Gandhi a "patriot"."Condemnation of Pragya Singh Thakur's comment by the BJP is not enough. Godse is the identity of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the same way khaki nikkar (khaki shorts) is. Now, it is in the hands of the people to decide whether they want our nation to be identified with Gandhi or Godse, humanity or khaki nikkar," Khan said on Thursday.On May 16, when questioned about actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan's remark that India's first terrorist was a Hindu (in reference to Godse), Thakur had said, "Nathuram Godse was a 'deshbhakt', is a 'deshbhakt' and will remain a 'deshbhakt'."Criticising the BJP government over giving the ticket to "a supporter of Godse", SP leader said Thakur must be thrown out of the party.Congress ...
Khashoggi's fiancee asks US to lead probe into murder
The fiancee of Jamal Khashoggi has asked the US to lead an international investigation into the murder of the Washington Post columnist last October inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
Trump reports making at least $434 million in 2018
US President Donald Trump reported income of at least $434 million in 2018, according to his annual financial disclosure released by the White House.
My wife would never lie: Navjot Singh on wife's claim against Amarinder Singh
Punjab Minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu backed his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu's claims that she was denied ticket due to state Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.Rejecting Navjot Kaur's claims on being denied ticket from Amritsar, Captain Amarinder had said that the former was offered the chance to contest from the holy city but she refused.Responding to this claim by Punjab Chief Minister, Navjot Singh on Thursday while addressing a press conference asserted, "My wife has the courage and the moral authority that she would never lie."Navjot Kaur wanted to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Chandigarh, but the leader was denied a ticket from the constituency. Congress fielded former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal from the seat.Following this, there were reports that Navjot Kaur might contest from Amritsar, the coveted seat from where Amarinder Singh had won against BJP's Arun Jaitley in the 2014 general elections. However, the ...
Trump urged to nominate Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia
Democratic members of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday urged President Donald Trump to nominate Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, an important diplomatic post that has been vacant in the 28 months of his administration. This is for the first time in the history of the State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asia that this critical position has remained vacant for so long. Indian-American Nisha Desai Biswal was the last diplomat to hold this position in the Obama Administration, which she left on January 20. "The position has remained without a confirmed appointee since the beginning of the Trump Administration, hampering the State Department's ability to conduct diplomacy and shape policy in a critical region of the world," Democratic lawmakers from the House Foreign Affairs Committee said. "The State Department's lack of senior-level involvement on a variety of matters related to South Asia has been deeply disturbing," said the ...
Washington says 'possible' Ankara will reject Russian missiles
The US believes it is "possible" Turkey will decide against buying a Russian air defense system whose proposed purchase has strained relations between the NATO allies, a top official said on Thursday. Washington has warned for months that Turkey's adoption of the Russian S-400 missile system would endanger Western defense and jeopardize Ankara's planned purchase of 100 of the US's F-35 stealth fighter jets. Asked on Thursday if Turkey may ultimately change its mind on the S-400, US Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson replied "it's possible." "The diplomats are continuing the work on that," she said, reiterating that the S-400 is "incompatible with having the F-35." The US in April placed a freeze on a joint F-35 manufacturing program with Turkey, and US law furthermore provides for sanctions on any country concluding arms deals with Russian companies. Two of the planes were delivered to Turkey in June 2018 but remain at a US Air Force base near Phoenix, Arizona, officially so Turkish ..
Will resign if Congress gets wiped out from Punjab: Amarinder Singh
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said that he will "accept responsibility and resign" if the Congress party does not perform well in the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab."I would take responsibility and would quit if the Congress was wiped out in the state in these Lok Sabha elections. All ministers and MLAs have been made responsible for the Congress party's performance in the state," the Chief Minister said in a statement."The party high command had decided to hold the ministers and legislators accountable for the victory/defeat of the Congress candidates. I am ready to take the same responsibility for the state but I am confident that Congress will sweep all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab," Amarinder said.Amarinder Singh returned as chief minister of Punjab in 2017 after a decade rule of Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Congress had won 77 out of the 117 seats in assembly elections with a vote share 38.5 per cent. Singh's first term as the chief minister .
Trump unveils plan for immigration reform
US President Donald Trump has unveiled a plan to reform the nation's immigration system, intended to favour high-skilled immigrants and restrict family-based migration.
Jeffrey Rosen confirmed as US' next deputy attorney general
Jeffrey Rosen was confirmed as the United States' latest deputy attorney general by the US Senate on Thursday after his predecessor, Rod Rosenstein, left the department last week.Rosenstein oversaw Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigations into Russian collusion in the 2016 Presidential elections, before stepping down from his post in April.The US Senate, controlled by the Republicans, approved Rosen as the next deputy attorney general through a vote, with 52 voting in favour of his appointment, according to Xinhua.US President Donald Trump had nominated Rosen for the job in February. His decision was criticised, reportedly due to Rosen's lack of experience as a prosecutor.The latest deputy attorney general previously served at the Department of Transportation as the deputy secretary. He also served in former US President George W. Bush's administration.
Punjab CM rejects Navjot Kaur's claims, says she refused to contest from Amritsar
Rejecting Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu's claims on being denied ticket from Amritsar, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said that the former was offered the chance to contest from the holy city but she refused."Ticket allocation was done by the Congress high command in Delhi, and they had chosen not to accept Navjot Kaur's application for the ticket to contest from Chandigarh. Chandigarh seat does not come under Punjab and thus I had no role in the selection of a candidate from there," the Chief Minister said in a statement."However, had I been asked, I would frankly tell the high command that Pawan Bansal, the chosen candidate of the party, was a better choice. She had been offered ticket from Amritsar and Bathinda, but she refused the same," he said.Earlier, Navjot Kaur had told ANI, "Captain Sahib (Amarinder Singh) and Asha Kumari think Madam Sidhu does not deserve an MP ticket. I was denied the ticket from Amritsar on the ground that I could not win."She wanted to
Security tightened at former US Embassy in Caracas
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday said that he ordered the strengthening of security at the United States' former embassy here despite US action against pro-government activists protecting the Venezuelan embassy in Washington.Tensions between the United States and the Maduro-led Venezuelan authorities are high since earlier this year when Washington recognised Venezuelan National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the official interim President of the South American nation. Maduro has accused the US of plotting a coup to oust him from power, labeling Guaido as a US "puppet".Following this, all US staff left the Caracas embassy, especially after Maduro severed diplomatic ties with the United States in the wake of the political crisis."I have ordered to boost the legal police protection of the building of the former US embassy which belongs to the US government. We will protect it because Venezuela follows conventions and international law. Criminals are sitting in the ...
UN calls for restraint amid Iran-US tensions
The UN has called for "maximum restraint" from all parties amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US and in the Gulf region.
May agrees to set timetable to choose successor
British Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to set a timetable for the election of her successor after the next Brexit vote in the first week of June.
Inflation not issue in 2019, Modi handled economy well: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that inflation is not an issue in the ongoing elections as it has been well controlled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre."If you go through Indian elections' history, you will see inflation was an issue in all of them. People used to sing 'Congress sarkar aayi hai, kamartod mehengai layi hai' (Congress government has come and brought high inflation along with it). But 2004 and 2019 are two elections where there were issues but inflation was not one of them," Singh said while addressing an election rally here."There was Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government before 2004 and Narendra Modi's before 2019. Both of them handled economic management well and attacked corruption. Pakistan's inflation rate is 10-12 per cent and India's is 2-3 per cent. We did not let inflation cross Indo-Pak border and enter here," he said.The Home Minister was addressing the rally in support of sitting BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma from Mandi
Owaisi asks Rajnath to book Sadhvi Pragya for sedition for "glorifying" Godse
AIMIM chief Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to book BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur under the sedition law and the National Security Act for terming Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse a "true patriot'.Hitting out at the Central government, Owaisi citing BJP's promise of strengthening sedition law if voted to power, pressed for action against Thakur.In a series of tweets, Owaisi wrote, "Rajnath Singh you've promised that sedition law will be strengthened further if you come back to power (God forbid). Is insulting Gandhi and glorifying his murderer sedition? Or is sedition law reserved only for minorities, Adivasis, Dalits & university students?"."Congress maintaining law and order is still your responsibility in Madhya Pradesh. Since your government has no qualms in applying the National Security Act - would you consider applying it against Pragya? Or is that also reserved for Muslims, Dalits & Adivasis .
LS polls: EC announces re-poll at polling booth in Chadni Chowk seat
The Election Commission of India ordered on Thursday re-poll at a polling booth in Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency.The poll body declared re-poll at polling station no. 32 of Chandni Chowk Assembly Segment after the presiding officer forget to delete the test votes before the actual polling on May 12.The re-poll will be conducted on Sunday.In Chandni Chowk, sitting BJP MP and Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan is contesting against four-time Lok Sabha MP and Congress leader Jai Prakash Agarwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Pankaj Gupta.The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Pragya Thakur apologises for 'Godse true patriot' remark, says Mahatma Gandhi's sacrifice cannot be forgotten
BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur on Thursday tendered an apology for her 'Godse is a true patriot' remark stating that she respects Mahatma Gandhi a lot and his sacrifice for the country cannot be forgotten."If someone has been hurt then I apologise for it. What Gandhi ji did for this country cannot be forgotten. I respect him a lot. My statement was misinterpreted and twisted by the media," Thakur said while speaking to ANI.Earlier in the day, when questioned about actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan's remark that India's first terrorist was a Hindu (in reference to Godse), Thakur said, "Nathuram Godse was a 'deshbhakt', is a 'deshbhakt' and will remain a 'deshbhakt'."The BJP leader also said it was her personal statement and she did not mean to hurt someone by her personal views. She also claimed that the media had twisted her remarks."This is my personal statement. I was in a roadshow and the way they questioned by adding saffron terror. I answered in haste and
Does only PM have the right to hold public meetings?, asks Mamata Banerjee
Amidst ongoing political slugfest in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday questioned if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only one who has the right to hold public rallies and meetings in the state."Only PM Modi has the right to hold rallies and meetings in the state, no one else? Did any sort of security issue happen to him? Then why they (EC) stopped the meeting for us?," Banerjee asked while expressing her discontentment over the Election Commission's decision to cut short the campaign period in the state.Further, she said that the proposed public meeting of PM Narendra that is slated to be held in Mathurapur is four kilometres away from the place that she held the public meeting."PM Modi's rally is four kilometres away. Why do they think only prime ministers security is important and not others?", she asked.Questioning her rights under the federal system of governance she said, "Why did they stop the election campaign? What do they think, whatever the Election
Andhra CM dubs Sadhvi Pragya's comment on Godse as 'depressing' and 'disgusting'
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu condemned BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur comments glorifying Mahatma Gandhi's assassin as "depressing" and "disgusting".On Thursday, when questioned about actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan's remark that India's first terrorist was a Hindu (in reference to Godse), Thakur said, "Nathuram Godse was a 'deshbhakt', is a 'deshbhakt' and will remain a 'deshbhakt'."Naidu took to Twitter to slam the Prime Minister and BJP and wrote, "It's depressing and disgusting to hear that those who killed the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi are being hailed as great Patriots by BJP candidates. This speaks a lot about the nature of patriotism of not only BJP candidates but also Narendra Modi, who supports such people."In another tweet, Naidu added, "First, they abused Maharashtra Police Officer Sri Hemant Karkare who was martyred, now it's the turn of the father of the nation, an apostle of non-violence and the torchbearer of ...
Indian Army will continue to target JeM, Hizbul Mujahidden: Chinar Corps
Indian Army on Thursday said it will continue to target terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen to eliminate terrorism from Kashmir."Relentless pressure from @adgpi @northerncomd_ia @kashmirpolice @crpf_srinagar, five terrorists eliminated today. Continued targeting of #LeaderlessJaish and #RudderlessHibz for #TerrorismFreeKashmir. Reiterate #JihadNahiJahalat," Chinar Corps, Indian Army said in Tweet.Earlier in the day, three terrorists were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.