Page 547 - Politics
Hafiz Saeed's brother-in-law arrested in Pakistan
Outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawa's top leader and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's brother-in-law Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki has been arrested for hate speech and criticising the Pakistan government, police said on Wednesday. Makki, head of JuD's political and international affairs wing and in-charge of its charity Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), was arrested during a government crackdown against the outlawed organisations. Punjab police spokesperson Nabila Ghazanfar confirmed Makki's arrest. She, however, did not explain the charges under which he was arrested. Sources said Makki has been arrested for making a hate speech in Gujranwala city, some 80-km from Lahore. The sources also said his arrest should be seen in connection with the government's steps to comply with the requirement of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for
Andhra CM blames BJP for violence in Kolkata
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday strongly condemned the violence "perpetrated" by the BJP in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Priyanka slams UP govt over alleged attack on Rae Bareli MLA
A day after an alleged attack on Rae Bareli MLA Aditi Singh, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the state government and local administration, terming the incident an attack on democracy. This is an attack on democracy. Nothing of this sort has ever happened in Rae Bareli. Country-made weapons, bricks and lathis were used in the attack. Zila panchayat members were dragged from their vehicles," Priyanka Gandhi alleged. She also alleged that one of the zila panchayat members was run over by a vehicle. "What kind of democracy is this? It is the BJP government in the state when such incidents are taking place while the entire administration is sitting idle," she said after a meeting with party workers here. Priyanka Gandhi maintained that the party would raise the issue at every level. Our leaders are meeting the Governor in Lucknow. In Delhi, we are meeting the Election Commission. We will take legal recourse and file a complaint against the local administration if .
TMC behind violence in Bengal, EC 'mute spectator' to violations: Amit Shah
BJP chief Amit Shah Wednesday blamed West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress for violence during his roadshow in Kolkata and accused the Election Commission of "double standards" for remaining a "mute spectator" to rigging and violation of the poll code in the state. He rejected TMC's allegation that BJP workers vandalised a bust of educationist and social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, claiming the regional party was behind it. The countdown of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's days in power will begin on May 23, when general election results will be declared, Shah warned. At a press conference a day after the violence, he said it would have been difficult for him to survive the attack on his convoy but for the security of CRPF, a central police force. "I want to tell the Election Commission that it has become a mute spectator to attempts to rig polls in West Bengal. It should immediately intervene. History-sheeters...are arrested during elections across the country. In Bengal, ..
Left ready to talk to regional parties on anti-BJP front govt
The CPI Wednesday said the left parties were ready to discuss with regional outfits the issue of forming a non-BJP front government in the event of NDA and UPA falling short of numbers. The General Secretary of CPI S Sudhakar Reddy said the left parties do understand that regional outfits would play an important role as neither the BJP-led NDA nor the Congress-anchored UPA may get majority to form government at the Centre. "So, in that case, regional parties have to play a role," Reddy told PTI. "The Left, at any cost, is not ready to support the BJP or take the support of the BJP. We want non-BJP front," he said. "We are ready to discuss with them (regional parties) together and decide the things," the veteran communist leader added.
Geelani hails release of prisoners by India, Pak
Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani Wednesday hailed the goodwill gesture by India and Pakistan to release prisoners from their respective jails and called for use of such measures as permanent feature of relations between the two countries. Thirteen Pakistani nationals, including four fishermen, were repatriated to Pakistan on Tuesday through the Attari-Wagah border. Last month, Pakistan released 55 Indian fishermen and five civilians as a "goodwill gesture". "The mutual well-wishing (steps) in the month of holy Ramadhan should be a permanent feature of the bilateral relations of the two countries," Geelani said in a statement. The separatist leader hoped that as important parties to the Kashmir dispute, "India and Pakistan should use these gestures to release all the prisoners belonging to Jammu and Kashmir, languishing in Indian jails". The Hurriyat leader reiterated his stand that Kashmir is "purely political and humanitarian problem" which is in dire need of
Violence during Shah's roadshow unfortunate: Raut
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut Wednesday slammed the West Bengal government over the attack on BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata, describing the incident as "unfortunate" for the country's democracy. Talking to reporters here, Raut, who is the Rajya Sabha MP, said there can be no restrictions on anyone to campaign anywhere the country. "West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not want Narendra Modi and Amit Shah in Bengal. Did anyone stop Mamata from campaigning in Gujarat?" Raut asked. It is unfortunate that the statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a noted philosopher and a key figure of Bengal Renaissance, was desecrated, he said. 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. Reacting to NCP chief Sharad Pawar's remarks that a Modi-led minority government would not last long, like ...
Modi-Shah duo responsible for promoting 'mobocracy', damaging cultural identity of states: Cong
The Congress Wednesday condemned the violence during Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata while accusing the Narendra Modi-Shah duo of promoting "mobocracy" in the country and damaging the cultural identity of the states. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi also condemned the desecration of the statue of national icon and social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar during the violence, terming it a "shameful act". "A new politics where 'mobocracy' is being actively encouraged and abetted by the ruling party -- the BJP -- in the country has gained ground in the past five years. Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah-led BJP are squarely responsible for systematically damaging the cultural identity of each state in India. The Modi-Shah duo are responsible for promoting mobocracy in the country," he told reporters. Singhvi alleged that the federal structure, respect for regional aspirations, culture, language, food habits and the identity of indigenous people are under attack by the BJP in every .
Kharge should have been made CM long back: Kumaraswamy
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said Congress veteran M Mallikarjuna Kharge should have been given the top post in the state a long time ago and alleged injustice was done to the veteran leader. His remarks at a public meeting attended by Kharge comes amidst a bitter spat between the leaders of Congress and JD(S) over the growing demand from a section of the national party's MLAs that Siddaramaiah be made the chief minister once again. Kumaraswamy is leading the Congress-JDS coalition government in the state. "Mallikarjun Kharge should have been the Chief Minister long back.. I feel injustice has been done to him.. I would like to clearly say that Kharge has not been given recognition for all the work he has rendered," Kumaraswamy said at a meeting in Chincholi on Tuesday. Siddaramaiah, Coalition Coordination Committee Chairman, had termed the growing clamour within his party to make him the Chief Minister once again as an expression of supporters' "affection," but said ..
Federal fascism embedded in BJP's DNA: Congress
Condemning the vandalism at a Kolkata college and destruction of Bengali polymath Vidyasagar's bust during BJP President Amit Shah's roadshow on Tuesday, the Congress on Wednesday said "federal fascism" was embedded in the BJP's DNA.
Mahesh Bhatt slams destruction of Vidyasagar's statue
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt on Wednesday condemned the destruction of Bengali polymath Vidyasagar's bust during BJP President Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata.
Theresa May to bring rejected Brexit deal back for Parliament vote in June
British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to bring her Brexit withdrawal agreement back for a fourth Parliament vote in June, setting an effective deadline for the ongoing cross-party talks to find a consensus on Britain's exit terms from the European Union (EU). Downing Street said in a statement on Tuesday evening that the Withdrawal Agreement Bill will be brought before the House of Commons in the week beginning June 3 in order for the UK to be able to leave the 28-member economic bloc within the October 31 deadline. "The Prime Minister met the Leader of the Opposition (Jeremy Corbyn) in the House of Commons to make clear our determination to bring the talks to a conclusion and deliver on the referendum result to leave the EU," a Downing Street spokesperson said. "It is imperative we do so then if the UK is to leave the EU before the summer parliamentary recess," the spokesperson said. The cross-party talks with the Opposition Labour Party, described as "useful and ...
US embassy staffer espionage trial resumes in Turkey
A US embassy staffer denied espionage charges as his trial resumed in Istanbul on Wednesday - part of a growing rift between Washington and Ankara. Metin Topuz, a Turkish citizen and liaison for the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), was arrested in 2017. He was accused of contacts with police and a prosecutor suspected of ties to US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says ordered an attempted coup in 2016. Topuz has denied all allegations against him and told the court on Monday that all his contacts were "part of my job", an AFP reporter said. "I am not a decision maker. I have done what I was ordered to do" by my boss at the DEA, he said. His defence lawyer presented a list of his phone calls with police, saying they were entirely work-related. US embassy and consular officials, who have dismissed the charges as being without merit, were also at the courthouse to observe proceedings. The trial comes at a time when the NATO allies are increasingly at odds over .
TMC blamed BJP for Kolkata violence, dubs Amit Shah 'liar'
Calling BJP President Amit Shah a "liar and cheater", the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday accused the BJP of vandalizing Bengali polymath Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue during clashes at his roadshow in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Regional parties will join 'federal front' in the event of
The ruling TRS in Telangana hoped regional parties would jump on the bandwagon of the federal front proposed by party president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in the event of a hung verdict in the Lok Sabha polls. DMK president M K Stalin's reiteration of his party's alliance with the Congress is not a setback to the efforts for a federal front, TRC MLC, Palla Rajeshwara Reddy told PTI. "It is not a setback for us... He (Stalin) is part of UPA. We have been trying for a consortium of the regional parties. We are already in touch with all these people..." he said. "In case they (UPA and NDA) don't get majority on their own, and if we (regional parties) are in a position, at that point of time, they (UPA or NDA) may support us," he said. The Congress' allies may influence the party to support the consortium of regional parties if such a situation arose, he claimed. The senior TRS leader felt the Lok Sabha elections would throw up a hung verdict and said in that ...
BSP will joins hands with BJP after results: Ex-Mayawati aide
Congress leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui, who was with the BSP until last year, claimed on Wednesday that Mayawati will be under so much pressure after the election results that she will join hands with the BJP. Once the Bahujan Samaj Party chief goes with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Siddiqui said the Samajwadi Party would be left with no other option but to come along with the Congress in the interest of country and Uttar Pradesh. "The BSP supremo had joined hands with the BJP in the past. And after May 23, there will be such pressure on her that she will become a part of the BJP," Siddiqui, who had revolted against Mayawati and joined the Congress last year, told reporters here. "There is nothing impossible in politics, I have known her for 33 years. I know her more than she knows herself," the Congress leader said. The former minister in the Mayawati government said he still respects her a lot, but there was no possibility of returning to the BSP. On the chances of Mayawati becoming ...
Opposition seeks fresh polling for Tripura West seat
The opposition Congress and CPI-M sought directions from the Supreme Court to hold fresh polling for the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat, although the constituency has already gone to the polls twice, party officials said on Wednesday.
Modi promises fresh 'vikas ki Ganga' in his next tenure
The last phase of polling may be five days away but Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday oozed with confidence about victory, and promised he will bring a fresh "vikas ki Ganga" to Bihar during his next tenure. He also said terrorists should be beaten like "ghosts who are driven away after being caught by the tuft of hair", and accused the Congress-led opposition of trying to downplay the issue of national security despite numerous lives lost in terror attacks. "This is my last election rally in Bihar. You have given me enormous love, and with my competent allies sitting on this dais, I am assured that the poll outcome would be favorable. But please ensure in the last phase that the magnitude of victory is divya aur bhavya (grand). "In my next tenure, I would be among you once again and bring along vikaas ki Ganga, he told an election rally here in Pataliputra parliamentary constituency, which goes to poll on May 19 in the final phase of the 7-stage general ...
Congress searching for scapegoats to save Rahul from blame: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday targeted Congress President Rahul Gandhi and said the party was already searching for scapegoats to blame them for the party's eventual Lok Sabha election defeat.
China questions French asylum to wife of former Interpol chief
China on Wednesday objected to the French government granting asylum to the wife of former Chinese Interpol chief Meng Hongwei, who is currently on trial here for alleged corruption, saying that there is no political persecution in the case. Grace Meng, who had declined to return to China after her husband was arrested last year while on a visit here, alleged his political persecution by the Chinese government. Reacting to her asylum, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said, I don't have the specifics. I can say that Meng was suspected of taking bribes and is being prosecuted by the Supreme People's Procuratorate." The case is ongoing and it is a normal criminal case. No political factor in it. There is no political persecution. The wife of Meng applied for asylum in France, it is abuse of French procedures. Hope China and France will hold proper and sound cooperation and deal with this case properly, he added. Meng, 65, once a rising political star of the ruling Communist