Page 549 - Politics
Violent turn to electoral battle in Bengal
(Analysis)Kolkata (ANI): Continuing political violence in West Bengal before and during the Lok Sabha election is making political pundits wonder whether it demonstrates nervousness of the ruling Trinamool Congress or desperation on the part of BJP to make inroads into the state which has witnessed TMC's supremacy in successive elections since it came to power in 2011.Nowhere else in the country, including the politically most-important state of Uttar Pradesh, such violence was witnessed although contesting parties engaged in a bitter verbal duel.The violence during polling in the previous phases of the Lok Sabha election in Bengal and in the roadshow of BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday has raised several questions over their cause. While Shah called it an attempt to "strangulate democracy", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has blamed BJP for engineering clashes by bringing toughs from U.P, Bihar and Jharkhand. She has also accused BJP of being ignorant of the culture of Bengal.The ...
US orders non-emergency embassy staff to leave Baghdad, Erbil
The US State Department on Wednesday ordered all non-emergency staff to leave its embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Erbil, as tensions mount between the United States and Iraq's neighbour Iran. Washington has ramped up pressure on Tehran in recent days, accusing Iran of planning "imminent" attacks in the region, and bolstering the American military presence in the Gulf.
BJP will win more than 300 seats in LS polls: Shah
BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday claimed that his party would win over 300 seats on its own in the Lok Sabha polls, while opposition parties may not even get the required number to elect the Leader of Opposition.
BJP holds silent protest at Jantar Mantar over violence at Amit Shah's Kolkata roadshow
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday held a silent protest at Jantar Mantar here against the violence that took place during Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata on Tuesday.Many top leaders of the party, including Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Dr Jitendra Singh and Vijay Goel, were seen sitting with a finger on their lips, holding placards that read - 'Save Bengal Save Democracy'. The leaders also wore black bands as a mark of protest.On Tuesday, clashes had broken out between BJP supporters and Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) activists after stones were allegedly pelted at Shah's convoy as it passed through College Street. The protest left several injured and the police later told Shah to immediately end the roadshow.Bengali polymath Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue was also vandalised during the clashes.After the silent protest, Goel told ANI that Mamata Banerjee knows that she is losing which is why she is instigating violence across the state."There is no place for ...
Iran's supreme leader makes uranium enrichment threat
Iran's supreme leader issued a veiled threat in the same speech in which he stated that "no one is seeking war," saying it wouldn't be difficult for the Islamic Republic to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels amid rising tensions with the US, state media reported Wednesday. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments late Tuesday came after Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a coordinated drone attack on a critical oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia. A satellite image obtained by The Associated Press shows one of the two pumping stations attacked by the drones apparently intact. The drone assault is just the latest incident in the Mideast to shake global energy markets, as authorities allege oil tankers anchored off the coast of the United Arab Emirates were targeted by sabotage. Benchmark Brent crude prices remained around $71 a barrel in early trading Wednesday. Meanwhile, the US is deploying an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers into the region in response to a still-unspecified threat .
Govt to e-auction iron ore dumps lying in Goa: Sawant
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said his government would conduct an e-auction of the piles of low-grade iron ore lying across the state, as a first step towards resumption of the mining industry. Sawant held meetings with mine owners and government officials on Tuesday to work out a solution for the resumption of the industry, which came to a halt in March 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed the renewal of 88 mining leases. The industry is a key source of revenue for the government. Sawant told reporters here on Tuesday that various dumps of low-grade iron ore lying across Goa would be e- auctioned to restart mining activity in the state. After the process of e-auction starts, the government will formulate a Mining Dump Policy by July, he said. The chief minister, who also holds mining portfolio, has asked the Directorate of Mines and Geology to provide the inventory of dumps lying across the state. He said resumption of mining was his government's priority as the .
EC a mute spectator in West Bengal: Shah
BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday hit out at the Election Commission for "not being impartial" in West Bengal and said it remained a mute spectator and did not act despite complaints of poll rigging in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.
BJP has fielded Sikh candidate in Amritsar, will avenge 2014 defeat: Hardeep Puri
Excited about contesting his first election from this holy town, Union minister Hardeep Puri says the BJP will avenge its 2014 defeat as it has fielded a Sikh candidate and there is a "definite consolidation" of the community's votes. The diplomat-turned-politician, a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh, said Amritsar missed an opportunity in 2014 by electing Congress' Captain Amarinder Singh, who didn't show up for three years despite being its MP. In a high profile contest in 2014, Amarinder Singh defeated BJP heavyweight Arun Jaitley by more than one lakh votes in Amritsar, famed as the Golden Temple town. He resigned in 2017 after being elected chief minister of Punjab. In 2014, there was the expectation that Modiji would become the prime minister... look at the opportunity Amritsar missed? Everywhere I go, people tell me they made a serious mistake by electing Captain Amarinder Singh, who didn't show up in Amritsar, Puri told PTI in an interview. Declaring that the party will ..
What's source of assets worth crores of 'Naamdar' and Bihar's corrupt family, asks PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday alleged that Congress' 'Naamdaar family and Bihar's corrupt family have assets worth thousands of crores' and asked the source of their income."Be it Congress' Naamdaar family or the corrupt family in Bihar, their assets are in hundred-thousand crores now. From where did the money come? Had they cared a little for the nation and the poor, they would have hesitated from indulging in corruption," said Prime Minister Modi while addressing an election rally."They live within such high walls that they cannot see the pain of the poor. They have lost touch with the land after usurping hundreds of acres of land. Even today their eyes are only open for looking for stolen money," said Modi.Prime Minister Modi also spoke about PM-KISAN scheme and outlined his government's vision to make farmers a significant part of the solar energy source."We have pledged to double the income of farmers by 2022. We have decided to help them become solar-power providers.
Indian warships take part in international maritime defence exhibition in Singapore
Two warships of the Indian Navy--INS Kolkata and INS Shakti--are participating in a three-day Asia Pacific naval and maritime event being held here, according to an official statement. The International Maritime Defence Exhibition Asia (IMDEX Asia-2019) commenced on May 14 and will also witness the participation of some of India's leading engineering and ship building firms, including Larsen & Toubro and BrahMos, which makes the state-of-the-art air, sea and ground launch cruise missiles. "Vice-Admiral M S Pawar, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff led the delegation to the Asia Pacific gathering of naval and maritime event," the Indian High Commission here said in a statement . INS Kolkata is an advanced stealth destroyer capable of engaging multiple threats from the air, sea and underwater and has been designed and built in India. INS Shakti is a fleet support ship to provide fuel, provisions and munitions to warships at sea. Following IMDEX, Indian Naval ships together with an Indian ..
Escaped safely only because CRPF was there: Amit Shah on Kolkata violence
A day after his mega road show in Kolkata was marred by violence, BJP president Amit Shah held Mamata Banerjee accountable for it, asserting that he wouldn't have been able to escape if CRPF was not deployed in the area. Shah alleged that West Bengal Police was "a mute spectator to the violence unleashed by TMC goons"."It would have been almost impossible for me to escape from there if CRPF personnel wouldn't' have been there. TMC can go up to any extent. It is by luck that I managed to get out of there," Amit Shah said at a press conference on Wednesday.He accused Election Commission of being biased in favour of TMC and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee."Election Commission is just a silent spectator, it should intervene. In West-Bengal history-sheeters are allowed to roam free at the time of elections by taking a bond, which is contrary to the practice elsewhere. I appeal Election Commission to at-least ensure a free and fair election in the last phase in West Bengal," said
BJP has numbers to crack MGB's caste code in UP's final round (IANS Special)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has an advantage in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday as the caste and community arithmetic of the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) may not work in 9 out of 13 seats in the final round.
Modi's legacy as Gujarat CM burden for country's communal history: Mayawati
BSP president Mayawati on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's legacy as the Gujarat chief minister is a black spot for himself and the BJP, as well as a burden on the communal history of the country. Mayawati alleged that the prime minister had crossed all limits of decency in terming the BSP her personal property. "The entire country knows that most of those having benami properties and the corrupt are connected with the BJP," she said, claiming that Modi is honest only on paper, just like he is an OBC only on paper. The Bahujan Samaj Party chief said her tenures as Uttar Pradesh chief minister had been clean. "PM Modi has been the Gujarat CM for a longer time than me, but his legacy is such that it is a black spot not only on himself, but also on the BJP and a burden on the communal history of the country," she said. Mayawati also retorted to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for holding her "unfit" for public life post her personal attack on Modi. "His (Modi's) .
Kamal Haasan's 'first terrorist was Hindu' remark taken out of context: MNM
Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Wednesday issued a clarification on its chief Kamal Haasan's statement that 'first terrorist in independent India was a Hindu," saying 'it has been taken out of context.'In a statement issued by R Mahendran, Vice President of the party, MNM stated: "Kamal Haasan was calling for religious tolerance and co-existence amongst all religious groups and condemned extremism in whichever form and religions."Asserting that confusion was made among citizens, the party further said: "This has been taken absolutely out of context and the speech has been painted as anti -Hindu, with a malafide intent. This has created complete confusion and utmost anxiety amongst many common citizens who are not privy to this larger conspiracy."Earlier on Tuesday, BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay moved the Delhi High Court seeking direction from Election Commission (EC) to take action against actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan, who stoked controversy by referring Mahatma Gandhi's assassin .
Shah accuses TMC of vandalising Vidyasagar's statue
BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday accused Trinamool Congress "goons" of vandalising the statue of social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar during his roadshow in Kolkata the previous day.
Congress stands with 'tukde-tukde' gang: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attacked the Congress saying it has been standing with the "tukde-tukde" gang and joined hands with those who care less about the country and more about themselves.
Protestors in London, Pakistan seek justice for Kashmiri political activist
Protests were held in London and Kotli in Pakistan on Wednesday to mark the sixth death anniversary of Kashmiri political activist Arif Shahid. Protestors also sought the arrest of those behind his killing.Activists of the Jammu Kashmir National Independent Alliance (JKNIA) gathered outside Pakistani Embassy in London and shouted slogans against Pakistan government.They also accused Islamabad of orchestrating the killings of political activists in the country and demanded an expeditious inquiry into the killing of Arif Shahid and the arrest of the perpetrators of the heinous crime.Shahid, 62, was the chairman of the All Parties National Alliance (APNA). He was killed on May 14, 2013, at his residence in Rawalpindi by some unidentified gunmen. He was a vocal critic of Pakistan for its illegal occupation of parts of Kashmir and other human rights abuses."Today, we have gathered here to demand the arrest of the killers of one of our tallest leaders Arif Shahid," said JKNIA activist ...
Probe on in Sardesai's 'weaponising youth' remark:Poll officer
A senior election officer in Goa on Wednesday said they were probing the complaint against state Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai for his comments on "weaponising" the youth and that action will be taken based on the inquiry report. North Goa district's Youth Congress president Vivek D'Silva lodged a complaint with the Election Commission on Monday, saying Sardesai's remark was "an indirect attempt to threaten voters" in the poll-bound Panaji Assembly constituency. He claimed Sardesai's comments were "against the state" and demanded that he be booked for sedition. State deputy chief electoral officer Sangeeta Naik told PTI that the North Goa district election officer was directed to conduct an inquiry and submit the report at the earliest. "Whatever action has to be taken, it will be based on the inquiry report," she said. Last week, while responding to a question on dilution of domicile clause by the Goa University, Sardesai, who heads the Goa Forward Party (GFP), .
Paint thrown at US ambassador's home in Greece
The home of the American ambassador to Greece was vandalised with paint on Wednesday, police and the ambassador said, a move likely carried out by domestic radical anarchists. "I woke up to more childish vandalism this morning outside the residence and will continue to work with Greek authorities to punish the culprits according to law," ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt said in a tweet. "Destruction of property is not peaceful protest," he said. Police said a group of ten persons on motorcycles approached the ambassador's residence and threw paint. Radical anarchists and domestic far-left outfits regularly carry out acts of violence against diplomatic missions in Greece. Anarchists in recent days have carried out vandalism attacks in support of a jailed prominent member of the far-left Greek extremist organisation November 17. Dimitris Koufodinas, the organisation's main hitman who is serving multiple life sentences, went on hunger strike this month after a furlough request was ...
TMC behind violence in Kolkata, not BJP, says Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday accused West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress of indulging in violence in the state and alleged that the Election Commission has been a "mute spectator". Addressing a press conference here, Shah also said he would not have escaped unhurt without CRPF protection when his convoy was allegedly attacked in Kolkata on Tuesday. He said West Bengal has witnessed violence in all the six phases of Lok Sabha polls. "The BJP is contesting polls in all states. There has been no violence. But there has been violence in West Bengal as TMC is contesting elections there ... it is simple," he said. Shah also accused TMC "goons" of vandalising the bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar inside a college, saying it was done to gain "sympathy" as the Mamata Banerjee-led party has realised its "reverse count" has begun. Accusing the poll panel of being a "mute spectator" in West Bengal, he alleged that history-sheeters were not arrested before polls. He also alleged that ..