Page 545 - Politics
AP CM accuses BJP of triggering violence in WB
Accusing the BJP of perpetrating violence in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Wednesday alleged the saffron party was trying to destabilise the state government there. He charged BJP president Amit Shah with triggering violence with the help of "goondas" during his rally in West Bengal on Tuesday. "Strongly condemn the violence perpetrated by the BJP and its workers yesterday in Kolkata. After desperately trying to destabilise the state government of West Bengal through CBI, ED and IT, they are now resorting to direct violence which shows their true colours," the TDP president said in a tweet in English. In another tweet, Naidu said, "Vandalising the statue of a great reformer like Sri Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is an indication of the pseudo-nationalism practiced by the BJP. This incident underlines the need for all the opposition parties to stand united against the destructive tactics of Amit Shah-led BJP." In a tweet in Telugu, he alleged Shah ...
Venezuela crisis: Juan Guaido says authorities want to 'close down' National Assembly
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has accused the country's authorities of trying to close down the National Assembly after the security forces prevented him from entering the parliament building.Speaking to his supporters here, Guaido said: "There is no doubt that (the authorities) have only one aim -- to close the Assembly. State terrorism is the only thing that (President) Nicolas Maduro can offer," reported TASS news agency."We will continue working and will not abandon the parliament. If we have to hold a session on the street outside, we will do it," he added.Security forces had prevented the Venezuelan lawmaker from entering the Parliament, saying that they were searching for a possible explosive device inside the building.Venezuela's Supreme Court on Tuesday accused four opposition members of parliament -- Carlos Paparoni, Miguel Pizarro, Franco Casella, and Winston Flores -- of treason and conspiracy.The top court had earlier a made a similar accusation against a few .
2019 polls may not see much change in NOTA proportion: Experts
With ballot option NOTA (None of The Above) seen to play a role in poll outcomes, especially in seats won by narrow margins, there is growing interest in its impact in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections results expected on May 23.
There is a need for intervention in West Bengal: Yogi Adityanath
A day after violence marred BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow here, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that there was a need for "intervention" in the state.When asked at a press conference if the President's Rule should be imposed in West Bengal, Adityanath said: "The way the power is being misused in Bengal and even yesterday the police remained as a passive onlooker, there would have been a major mishap if there were no central forces. Naturally, these conditions prove that here there is a need to intervene.""The way TMC goons attacked Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata on Tuesday, it is a dangerous sign for democracy and the beginning of TMC government's end. In Uttar Pradesh, elections have taken place peacefully in 67 Lok Sabha constituencies in six phases so far. Till now, there has not been any incident of booth capturing, stone pelting or violence," said Adityanath.He alleged the "state government-sponsored incident in Kolkata was an incident of ...
BJP stages protest in Jammu over Kolkata violence
The BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit staged a protest here on Wednesday against the alleged attack on party president Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata, terming the incident as "an onslaught on democracy". Led by BJP leader Ashok Kaul, scores of party workers assembled near the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh at Tawi bridge in the heart of the city and staged a "silent sit-in" protest. The protesters were carrying placards and banners against the Trinamool Congress government in the state led by Mamata Banerjee. BJP and TMC supporters Tuesday fought pitched battles on the streets of Kolkata during Shah's roadshow. The BJP chief escaped unhurt, but was forced to cut short the jamboree and had to be escorted to safety by police. Party leader Yudhvir Sethi alleged that there was "total lawlessness" in West Bengal. "Sensing defeat in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections... the opposition is hell bent to let the nation burn, so that they can rule according to their own whims and fancies making their ...
Survived Trinamool 'attack' because of CRPF: Shah
BJP President Amit Shah said on Wednesday that what happened in Kolkata during his roadshow on Tuesday was not violence but an attack by Trinamool Congress "goons" and that he would not have escaped unhurt if there was no CRPF protection.
FIR against Amit Shah a mockery of democracy: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against BJP national president Amit Shah for the attacks on his road show in Kolkata is a 'mockery of democracy and due process'. "The FIR against BJP National President, Shri AmitShah for the attacks on his road show in Kolkata is a mockery of democracy and due process," Singh tweeted.On Tuesday, clashes broke out during Shah's mega road show in Kolkata after sticks were hurled at his convoy. Police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.The protest left several injured, due to which Shah was asked to end the roadshow. Bengali polymath Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue was also vandalised during the clashes.Taking on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for misusing state machinery to stifle democratic rights of the people, Singh said, "West Bengal Govt is misusing the state machinery to stifle democratic rights of the people. These attempts at intimidating the ...
Agra by-election prestige issue for Yogi
With just three days remaining for the crucial by-election for the Agra North Assembly seat on May 19, the campaign has already turned into what locals said was "a sort of referendum" on the performance of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh.
BJP holds silent protest against Mamata government
The BJP held a silent protest here on Wednesday against the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government in wake of violence during BJP President Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata which saw a bust of Bengali polymath Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar being destroyed.
Will make sedition law more stringent: Rajnath
Hitting out at the Congress for promising to abolish sedition law in its poll manifesto, Union minister Rajnath Singh has said the BJP will make it more stringent. "Congress talks about abolishing sedition law but on coming back to power, the BJP will make it so stringent that no one would dare to act against it," the Home Minister said addressing an election rally at BLJ ground here in favour of alliance partner Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel on Tuesday. "Our forces finished off terrorists in air strikes after the Pulwama attack but the Congress people are asking for the number of those killed. Braves do not count bodies, vultures do," he said. On country's economy, he said inflation had been the main electoral issue during polls but not in 2004 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, as it was the management of the two BJP prime ministers (A B Vajpayee and Narendra Modi) who did not allow prices to go out of hands. Attacking the Congress president, the home minister said Rahul Gandhi is talking ...
Kharge should have been made CM long time ago: Kumaraswamy
Amid the 'Siddaramaiah for CM' clamour in Karnataka, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said Congress veteran M Mallikarjun Kharge should have been given the position a long time ago and "injustice" was done to the leader. His remarks come amid a bitter spat between the leaders of the ruling coalition partners Congress and JD(S) to make Siddaramaiah the state chief minister once again. But the comments gave fresh ammunition to the BJP to target the alliance government. BJP state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa asked Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) to immediately vacate the post for Kharge, the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha. Kharge, a nine-time MLA and two-term Lok Sabha member who has never tasted electoral defeat, termed Kumaraswamy's remarks as "election-time statement." Addressing a meeting in Chincholi assembly segment for a by-election attended by Kharge on Tuesday, Kumaraswamy said the Congress leader should have become chief minister long ago. "Mallikarjun Kharge should have become ..
US orders non-emergency embassy staff to leave Baghdad, Arbil
The US on Wednesday ordered all non-emergency staff to leave its embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Arbil, as tensions mount between the United States and Iraq's neighbour Iran, prompting Kremlin concern. Washington has ramped up pressure on Tehran in recent days, accusing Iran of planning unspecified "imminent" attacks in the region, and bolstering the American military presence in the Gulf. A State Department advisory announcing the partial embassy closures warned of numerous "terrorist and insurgent groups" active in Iraq, including "anti-US sectarian militias" who could "threaten US citizens and Western companies throughout Iraq." The US last year shut its consulate in the protest-hit southern Iraqi city of Basra, blaming "indirect fire" by Iran-backed forces. Tensions have sharply escalated between arch-rivals Washington and Tehran since US President Donald Trump withdrew last May from the 2015 international Iran nuclear deal which removed sanctions in exchange for curbs on ...
Who emboldened Haasan to rake up Gandhi's killing, asks BJP
Keeping up the heat on Kamal Haasan over his "free India's first extremist was a Hindu" remark, the BJP Wednesday said it was not a subject to be spoken on at a public meeting and asked who emboldened him to rake up Gandhi's killing years after it happened. BJP state unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan took a swipe apparently at the Congress for supporting Haasan on the matter, saying that those who lost their leader to extremism were now backing the actor on his controversial statement. Stoking a controversy, Haasan had on Sunday said that "free India's first extremist was a Hindu", referring to Nathuram Godse, who killed Mahatma Gandhi. "I am not saying this because this is a Muslim-dominated area, but I am saying this before a statue of Gandhi. Free India's first extremist was a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse. There it (extremism, apparently) starts," he said in bypoll-bound Aravakurichi. Soundararajan said terror had no religion and questioned why TNCC chief K S Alagiri and .
Mamata Banerjee govt out to destroy everything in Bengal :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said that the Mamata Banerjee government is out to destroy everything in West Bengal and people's conviction and courage will evict the "tortorous rule". The entire nation had seen (on TV) how the roadshow of BJP president Amit Shah was attacked by the TMC goons and is anxiously watching the outcome of the poll results in West Bengal, he said. Shah's roadshow in Kolkata was attacked Tuesday after Banerjee had asserted that TMC will take revenge against BJP, Modi claimed. "Didi's (Mamata) goons carrying guns and bombs are bent upon destruction ... Her government is out to destroy everything in the state. People's conviction and courage will evict the tortorous rule", he told a poll rally at Taki on the Indo-Bangla border in North 24 Parganas district. "Didi is frightened by the rise of BJP in West Bengal. The people of the state had given respect to here by making her the chief minister. But power-drunk Mamata Banerjee is throttling
Congress has accepted its defeat: Prime Minister Modi
With electioneering at its peak for the last phase of seven-phased Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the Congress party has accepted its defeat and its 'Darbaris' are making controversial statements just to save their 'Naamdars' from the blame."The Congress party has understood that it would lose the polls. It is now planning to put blame on someone to save the 'Naamdars' (Gandhi family). And two of its big 'Darbaris' (Sam Pitroda and Mani Shankar Aiyar) have even started working on it," said Modi while addressing an election rally here.Referring to Pitroda and Aiyar as 'cricketers,' Prime Minister Modi said: "Two cricketers have even started their batting. And the party is distancing itself from their comments. I am telling you that they do not have this kind of power for batting without the order of the captain."It is worth mentioning that Pitroda, also the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) chief had recently said - 'Hua to Hua' (Happened, so what) - ..
PM Modi scared of debating with me because he will lose face: Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the 2016 demonetisation decision of the Modi government had destroyed the economy and asserted that Congress's election promise of NYAY scheme will revive it."Manmohan Singh had said in parliament that India's GDP will suffer by 2 per cent due to demonetisation and the same thing was proven true after a year. NYAY will not only benefit five crore families and 25 crore people but would also help the economy by boosting the business of small and medium traders", he said addressing an election meeting here.In an attempt to woo the farmer community in the region, Gandhi promised a separate farm budget if Congress comes to power."After 2019, there will be two budgets in parliament. First will be a budget for farmers and the second will be the national budget. Before the national budget, it must be told to farmers that how much assistance does government plans to give them, how much would be increment in MSP, how many food processing ...
Political slugfest intensifies over Kolkata violence; Shah says escaped safely thanks to CRPF
A political slugfest has erupted over the violence that marred on Tuesday the road-show of BJP chief Amit Shah, who said here on Wednesday that he managed to escape safely only because of the personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).Talking to media persons here, Shah blamed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the violence, which was allegedly "unleashed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) goons." He also alleged the state police was "a mute spectator to the violence.""It would have been almost impossible for me to escape from there if the CRPF personnel won't have been there. TMC can go to any extent. It is by luck that I managed to get out of there," Shah said.However, TMC hit back at the BJP."Anybody can come and do a procession, but what were the outsiders for.....Who is this fellow Tejinder Bagga? Who is he? He was arrested. Is he not the same guy who slapped somebody in Delhi? You have taken in your outsider goons," said Derek O'Brien, national spokesperson of TMC.O'Brien, who ...
Tajinder Bagga hits back at Derek O'Brien, says nobody takes TMC leader seriously
BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga on Wednesday hit back at the allegations made by TMC spokesperson Derek O'Brien, claiming that nobody takes the latter seriously.Speaking to ANI, Bagga said he would leave politics if the allegations made by TMC were proved."Nobody takes Derek O'Brien seriously. I challenge him; if he can prove that I was within 500 metres of the spot where violence broke out, I will leave politics. However, he should leave politics if he fails to prove the charge," Bagga said.Earlier in the day, O'Brien had accused BJP president Amit Shah of bringing in "outsiders" for the clashes during the latter's roadshow in the city on Tuesday."Anybody can come and do a procession, but what were the outsiders... Who is this fellow Tajinder Bagga? Who is he? He was arrested, is he not the same guy who slapped somebody in Delhi? You have taken in your outsider goons," he had told reporters.Bagga had tweeted that the door of his hotel room was broken and he was arrested at .
Power hungry Modi-Shah duo hell-bent on bulldozing cultural identity of Indian states: Congress
The Congress party on Wednesday accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah of being "power-hungry" and "hell-bent" on bulldozing the cultural identity of Indian states."Federal fascism is embedded in BJP's DNA. The power-hungry Modi-Shah duo is hell bent in bulldozing the cultural identity of the Indian states. We in the Indian National Congress strongly condemn the violent desecration of national icons like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a great educationist," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said while addressing a press conference here.The statements from the Congress party come in the wake of violence during Amit Shah's roadshow in West Bengal on Tuesday. A bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was also desecrated. BJP and TMC have blamed each other for the violence."What has happened is because of the BJP under Modi-Shah duo, "mobocracy" is being actively encouraged and abetted. This is a larger issue which included the issues of federal structure, ...
TMC govt undemocratic; nationalist govt will rule West Bengal after May 23: Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly fanning violence during Amit Shah's roadshow on Tuesday, saying it 'was a murder of democracy.'"It was a murder of democracy. This move by goons will end the TMC government in the state. In a few days, TMC goons will be searching for shelters to hide their faces. Mamata Banerjee is frustrated which is why she is taking such steps," he said addressing a public rally in Barasat.He also alleged that the Chief Minister is trying to block the term 'Ram' in the state and added: "She is emboldening goons."Yogi also rakes up the ban imposed on Durga Puja by the government last year saying, while the whole nation observed Durga Puja and Muharram together, as their dates had clashed, only West Bengal government banned the celebration of Durga Puja."The whole country including Uttar Pradesh observed Durga pooja and Muharram together. No violence took place in my state as I ..