Page 548 - Politics
Modi thinks only one person can run nation: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi Wednesday lashed out at Narendra Modi, saying the Prime Minister thinks "only person can run the country while actually it is the people who run the nation. Gandhi noted that Modi used to make "fun" of former PM Manmohan Singh "but after five years now Modi ji does not make fun of Manmohan ji.Today the country is making fun of him (Modi)". Addressing a poll rally at Bargari in Faridkot in favour of Congress candidate Mohd Sadique from Faridkot Lok Sabha seat, Gandhi referred to sacrilege incidents in 2015 and promised strict action against those involved in desecration of religious scriptures. I recall coming here when your 'dharam' (Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib) was disrespected. And those who did wrong, strict action will be taken against them and I give you guarantee on this, said Gandhi. On Tuesday, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, while addressing a poll rally in Bathinda, had lashed out at the BJP's ally SAD over the sacrilege ...
Poland demands reaction over assault of ambassador to Israel
Poland's prime minister on Wednesday condemned what he described as a "xenophobic" attack on the country's ambassador to Israel on a Tel Aviv street. Israeli officials have expressed shock at the attack and said they were investigating the assault on Marek Magierowski on Tuesday. The incident comes amid a bitter standoff between Poland and Israel over how to remember the Holocaust and over demands that Poland pay reparations for former Jewish properties that were seized by Nazi Germany and later nationalised by Poland's communist regime. Israeli Ambassador Anna Azari was summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry in Warsaw on Wednesday over the assault. Michal Dworczyk, the head of Morawiecki's office, said the Polish government expects the perpetrator to be punished. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki expressed his concern at what he described as a "racist" attack. "Poland strongly condemns this xenophobic act of aggression. Violence against diplomats or any other citizens should .
AgustaWestland has been bad karma for India: Book
Whichever government was in power, whether it was Manmohan Singh's in 2004, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's in late 2003, or even the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1987, Westland's tryst with India has remained jinxed, says a new book. The Untold Story of Christian Michel and AgustaWestland looks at how the alleged scandal in the purchase of helicopters became a raging storm in India. Caught in the web of complex events orchestrated by powerful corporate kingpins with vested interests are the three main players - Guido Haschke, Giuseppe Orsi and Christian Michel. The book also provides insights into the role of coteries in India's power politics. Michel is an alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland chopper scam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that the deal signed in February 2010 to supply VVIP choppers, worth 556.262 million euros, caused an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore). On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with ...
Modi's tenure as Gujarat CM a black spot: Mayawati
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BSP president Mayawati on Wednesday said his legacy as the chief minister of Gujarat is a "black spot" and "burden" on the BJP as well as the communal history of the country. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also said that Modi was "unfit" as chief minister and prime minister and his tenure has seen "anarchy and hatred". "My tenure as chief minister of UP for four times has been clean and works done on law and order, development, peoples welfare front are remembered even today. PM Modi has been CM of Gujarat for a longer time but his legacy is such it is a black spot not only on himself but also on the BJP and a burden on communal history of the country," she said here. "It is clear how fit the BSP president is on issues of peoples welfare and national interest and how unfit the prime minister is," she said. "During our government, UP remained free of anarchy and riots but Narendra Modi's tenure not only as the Gujarat CM but also
Sudan army rulers, protesters agree on 3-year transition period
Sudanese army rulers and protest leaders Wednesday agreed on a three-year transition period for transferring power to a full civilian administration even as negotiations over a new sovereign ruling body remain unfinished. The protest movement is demanding a civilian-led transition following 30 years of iron-fisted rule by now deposed president Omar al-Bashir, but the generals who toppled him have been holding onto a leadership role. Talks between the two sides resumed earlier in the week but were marred by violence when an army major and five protesters were killed by unidentified gunmen at a long-running sit-in outside military headquarters in Khartoum. The two sides announced early Wednesday that they had reached an agreement on the transition period. "We agreed on a transitional period of three years," Lieutenant General Yasser al-Atta, a member of the military council told reporters. Atta said a final agreement on the sharing of power, including the forming of the next ruling body
In poll season, demand for making opium cultivation legal in Punjab intensifies
As Punjab tries to wriggle out of the grip of a continuing farm crisis and drug menace, a small set of farmers and politicians has been pushing for legalising opium cultivation in the state, arguing it will increase farmers' income and help fight "chitta" (synthetic drug). The farmers seeking legalisation of opium cultivation say they will support those who accept their demand in the elections. Patiala MP Dhramvir Gandhi and Shiromani Akali Dal Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa are among those advocating opium cultivation under the supervision of the state government. Dhindsa says small farmers in Punjab are under huge debt and fighting for survival. Opium cultivation under a government contract can turn things around for them. "Opium cultivation can fetch Rs 5-6 lakh per acre. The financial condition of small farmers will change drastically if the government allows each farmer to cultivate opium even in an acre of land," he says. "The government cannot put a complete end to ...
Doctor turned scribe from Karnataka has a hobby of contesting elections against political bigwigs
This doctor-turned-scribe from Karnataka has a different hobby--contesting elections against political bigwigs. However, he is disappointed that he could contest the Lok Sabha elections against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi but not against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi where his nomination was rejected. U P Shivananda, a medicine graduate had given up his medical practice to run a local Kannada daily newspaper and highlight the ground issues in Puttur district of Dakshina Kannada. For Shivananda win or loss does not matter, contesting elections is his passion. "I just want to contribute my bit to the democratic system of the country and it is not by just casting my vote but by being in the poll fray. It is a hobby, it is a passion. Whenever I go for campaign I always tell I am not here for votes but just to send out a message," he told PTI. "I had filed my nominations from Amethi as well as Varanasi because I wanted to fight the elections against Rahul Gandhi and Modi as the Lok ..
Frustrated Mamata unleashed her goons to attack Shah's roadshow, alleges Uttarakhand BJP
BJP's Uttarakhand unit Wednesday accused TMC chief Mamata Banerjee of "unleashing her goons" to attack a roadshow by his party chief Amit Shah and said the act bore testimony to her "growing frustration" in the face of impending defeat and her "dictatorial" approach. BJP and TMC supporters Tuesday fought pitched battles on the streets of Kolkata during a massive roadshow by Shah, who escaped unhurt but was forced to cut short the jamboree and had to be escorted to safety by police. "Mamata Banerjee is frustrated as her party is heading for a defeat at the hands of the BJP in West Bengal. She also seems to have lost her balance seeing the growing popularity of the BJP. Out of sheer despair, the TMC boss unleashed her goons on the streets of Kolkata to attack BJP president Amit Shah's massive roadshow," Uttarakhand BJP chief Ajay Bhatt said in a statement here. Citing a threat to Shah's life in West Bengal, Bhatt said he would not have escaped unharmed if the central forces had not ...
Sudan's army, protesters strike some deals in negotiations
Sudan's ruling generals and the protesters who drove President Omar al-Bashir from power last month say they're making progress in negotiations and have agreed on the length of the country's transition period. The two sides, which have been at odds over the transfer of power to civilian rule, say the transition will last three years. Lt. Gen. Yasser al-Atta, a member of the military council, and Madani Abbas, a negotiator for the protesters, said on Wednesday they also agreed on the makeup of a 300-member, all-civilian transitional legislative body. Al-Atta says the next issue is the makeup of a sovereign council; he hopes they will strike a deal within 24 hours. The military took over after ousting al-Bashir, but the protesters stayed on the streets, demanding handover of power.
No civilization superior over another, says Xi
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said that "no civilization is superior over others" and urged countries not to "close their doors and hide behind them" in his first public speech since the US raised tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods amid an escalating trade war.
Pakistan arrests Hafiz Saeed's brother-in-law
The brother-in-law of Mumbai terror attack mastermind and proscribed Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed has been arrested for hate speech and criticizing the Pakistan government, the police said on Wednesday.
Iran pulls out of parts of 2015 nuclear deal
Iran has officially ended its compliance with several commitments of the countrys 2015 nuclear deal, the country's atomic energy body said on Wednesday.
Priyanka in Rae Bareli after attack on Congress MLA
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi flew to Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday to meet Congress legislator Aditi Singh and members of the zila panchayat who had been injured in an attack on them on Tuesday.
BJP protests at Jantar Mantar over Kolkata violence
The BJP staged a silent protest at the Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday to condemn the violence in Kolkata after the alleged attack on the party president Amit Shah's convoy. Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Jitendra Singh, Vijay Goel and Harsh Vardhan wore black bands and put fingers on their lips while sitting on the podium. Some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers were also carrying placards which read: "save Bengal, save democracy". The leaders hit out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly "throttling democracy" in the West Bengal. "Yesterday, our national president's (Shah's) rally was hit by violence, but if it wasn't for the CRPF, our party president would not have come back safe," Sitharaman told reporters. "I think the forthcoming defeat has left the CM of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, completely rattled and she has been provoking her cadre to indulge in violence." The defence minister wondered how noted reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue, which was inside ...
BSP candidate goes missing, party campaigns for him
As the heat of the Lok Sabha elections reaches its pinnacle, a BSP candidate has gone missing. An FIR registered in a Varanasi police station accuses him of sexual assault.
Cong has fielded two batsmen to take blame for poll defeat:
Asserting that the Congress will be losing the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday claimed that the party has fielded "two batsmen" to defend the "naamdar" (dynast). In a veiled dig at Congress leaders Mani Shankar Aiyar and Sam Pitroda, Modi said they were tasked by the party to take the responsibility for the poor poll show. "One says 'hua to hua' ( it happened, so what) on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots while the other, who has been behind curtains after abusing me during the Gujarat elections, is again attacking me," the prime minister said. While Pitroda faced the wrath of Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks, Aiyar in an article raked up his controversial "neech" remark against Modi, saying his comments turned out to be prophetic. The prime minister has often targeted Gandhi, calling him "naamdar". Attacking the Congress leadership, Modi said, "What the rule by one family could not do in 55 years, the BJP-led government did in 55 ...
Neither BJP nor NDA will form govt at Centre: Azad
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Wednesday claimed that neither BJP nor NDA will form the government at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections. Narendra Modi will not become prime minister for second time after the election as a non-NDA, non-BJP government will be formed at the Centre, he claimed. "We are in the last phase of elections and I can say on the basis of my experience during campaigning across the country that neither BJP nor NDA is going to return to power at the Centre. "Narendra Modi is also not going to become the prime minster for the second time ... Non-NDA non-BJP government will be installed at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections," he told reporters here. Azad said it will be good if there is a consensus on Congress leader's name for heading the government at the Centre after the Lok Sabha election results are out but "we are not going to make it an issue that we (Cong) will not let any other (leader) to become the PM, if it is not ...
Saudi Arabia says its oil pipeline was hit by drones
An oil pipeline that runs across Saudi Arabia was hit Tuesday by drones, the Saudi energy minister said, as regional tensions flared just days after what the kingdom called an attack on two of its oil tankers near the Persian Gulf. While both US President Donald Trump and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said they were not planning for conflict, the volatility was felt in oil markets with benchmark Brent crude trading over USD 71 a barrel, up more than USD 1 on the day. The pipeline that runs from the kingdom's oil-rich Eastern Province to a Red Sea port was shut down, but Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih Al-Falih vowed that the production and export of Saudi oil would not be interrupted. The Houthis, who are at war with Saudi Arabia, said earlier Tuesday they launched seven drones targeting vital Saudi installations, without elaborating. They later claimed responsibility for the pipeline attack in comments broadcast by Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya ...
HC disposes of plea against Haasan over his remark on Godse
Delhi High Court on Wednesday disposed of a petition filed against actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan over his controversial remark that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was a 'Hindu terrorist.'The bench presided by Justice GS Sistani and Justice Jyoti Singh questioned the jurisdiction of the petition filed by BJP spokesperson Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay and said that he should have approached the Madras High Court as the comment was made in Tamil Nadu.The petition had sought direction to the Election Commission of India to take appropriate action against Haasan, who is the president of the Makkal Needhi Maiam over his comment that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse is "independent India's first Hindu terrorist.""Speaking at an election rally for his party candidate in Aravakurichi Assembly constituency, where bypolls will be held on Sunday (May 19), Mr Haasan had said 'the first terrorist post-India's independence is a Hindu. His name is Nathuram Godse'," the petition ...
Riyadh says oil facility attacks target world supplies
Saudi Arabia said Wednesday that attacks on two of its oil tankers and a major pipeline targeted not only its own security but that of the world's supplies. Drone attacks claimed by Iran-aligned Yemeni rebels shut down one of the kingdom's main oil pipelines on Tuesday, further ratcheting up Gulf tensions after the mysterious sabotage of four ships, two of them Saudi tankers, just outside the Gulf on Sunday. "The cabinet affirms that these acts of terrorism and sabotage ... do not only target the kingdom but also the security of world oil supplies and the global economy," it said after a meeting chaired by King Salman in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Tuesday evening. Tuesday's drone strikes hit two pumping stations on the kingdom's east-west pipeline, which can carry five million barrels of crude per day and provides a strategic alternative route for Saudi exports if the shipping lane from the Gulf through the Stait of Hormuz is closed. Yemen's Huthi rebels claimed responsibility for .