Page 552 - Politics
Pompeo tells Russia: no more election interference
On his first trip to Russia as U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that he warned his Russian counterpart against any "unacceptable" Russian meddling in U.S. elections. At a news conference following three hours of meetings, Pompeo said he told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov added than any such action by the Russians in the 2020 elections "would put our relationship in an even worse place than it has been." Both diplomats said the meeting in the resort city of Sochi covered an array of issues that have heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington. These included Iran, Syria and Venezuela, where the United States supports opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president and Russia backs President Nicolas Maduro. Lavrov defended Russia's position and said the threats Maduro's government is receiving from U.S. administration officials coupled with Guaido's seeming support for a foreign military intervention, "bear no relation to democracy." Iran was a key ...
Military officer says no rise in Iran threat in Iraq, Syria
The U.S.-led military coalition combating the Islamic State group has detected no greater recent threat to its troops in Iraq or Syria from forces backed by Iran, a senior coalition officer said Tuesday in an apparent contradiction of Trump administration claims. "No, there's been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria," British Maj. Gen. Chris Ghika told reporters at the Pentagon in a video conference from coalition headquarters in Baghdad. "We're aware of their presence, clearly, and we monitor them, along with a whole range of others because that's the environment we're in." His comment comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, including assertions by administration officials that they have detected signs that Iranian or Iranian-backed proxies were preparing for possible attacks against American interests in the Mideast. The administration cited the threats as the reason for expediting the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and other ..
Mamata condemns attacks on Vidyasagar College, CU students
Condemning alleged attacks on students of the Vidyasagar College and University of Calcutta after BJP President Amit Shah's roadshow here, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she has never seen such political violence in Kolkata.
Huawei chairman says ready to sign 'no-spy' deal with UK
Chinese telecom giant Huawei is willing to sign a "no-spy" agreement with countries including Britain, the firm's chairman said on Tuesday, as the head of NATO said Britain must preserve secure mobile networks. Liang Hua visited Britain as the government weighs the risks of allowing the Chinese company to help develop its 5G infrastructure. "We are willing to sign 'no-spy' agreements with governments, including the UK government, to commit ourselves, to commit our equipment to meeting the no-spy, no back-door standards," Liang told reporters. The British government is in the middle of a furious debate over whether to let Huawei roll out its next-generation mobile service. The private Chinese firm currently has the most advanced and cheapest 5G capacities in the world. But the United States has warned its close ally that it might have to limit security and intelligence sharing with Britain if it allowed China to play a significant role. Washington's broader geopolitical concerns have ..
Take strong action against WB govt for violence during BJP chief's roadshow: Goyal
Union minister Piyush Goyal Tuesday urged the Election Commission to take strong action against the West Bengal government for the violence during BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata. After violence and arson marred BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata, a party delegation, including Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, rushed to the EC, seeking its immediate intervention to ensure free and fair polls in the state. I request the President of India to take cognisance of the matter and ensure a message is send to the voters that they need not to fear and they be getting full protection and should come out fearfully to vote in large numbers on May 19 elections to make the BJP win," he said. Strong action must be taken against the West Bengal government, the Union minister said. It is a total break down of law and order in West Bengal , a 'goondaraj' is prevailing in the state under the Mamata Banerjee government, he alleged. Goyal claimed that ...
'We fundamentally do not seek a war with Iran': Pompeo
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that the United States does not want war with Iran but vowed to keep pressuring Tehran. "We fundamentally do not seek a war with Iran," Pompeo told a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. But he added: "We have also made clear to the Iranians that if American interests are attacked, we will most certainly respond in an appropriate fashion." Pompeo said that he spoke both to Lavrov and, on Monday in Brussels, to European allies about the threat the United States sees from Iran. His remarks come after the United States deployed an aircraft carrier strike group and nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East, although President Donald Trump denied a report that he is considering sending 120,000 troops. "We are looking for Iran to behave like a normal country," Pompeo said, pointing in part to Tehran's backing of Huthi rebels in Yemen who are under attack from US ally Saudi ...
Iran Foreign Minister meets Sushma, decision on oil after polls
India on Tuesday said that a decision on import of oil from Iran will be taken after the general elections as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met her visiting Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, weeks after the US ended its Iranian oil waiver for India and others.
EC turns down Goa govt's poll code relaxation request
The Election Commission of India Tuesday turned down a request by the Goa government for relaxation in model code of conduct, in force since March 10 for Lok Sabha polls, in the South district for pre-monsoon works. State Chief Electoral Officer Kunal informed Goa Chief Secretary Parimal Rai that the model code of conduct would be relaxed only after the entire election process was over. While polls to the state's two Lok Sabha seats were over on April 23, bypoll to the Panaji Assembly seat, in North Goa district, is slated for May 19.
Election announced for two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam
The Election Commission on Tuesday announced elections to two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam which will fall vacant in mid-June when terms of sitting members - former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress' Santiuse Kujur - end.
SP's Karakat candidate writes open letter to PM on jobs for Bihar youths
Samajwadi Party's Lok Sabha candidate from Karakat and party's national spokesperson Ghanshyam Tiwari Tuesday wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking time to submit bio-data of a large number of unemployed youths in this constituency in Bihar. Tiwari said, he and his team have been collecting bio-data of youths from all communities in Karakat and the target is to collect "one lakh" curriculum vitae. "PM Modi today addressed a rally in Sasaram constituency, which neighbours the Karakat constituency. It was disheartening that he did not outline any vision for the youth of not just Karakat, but entire Bihar," he said. The SP spokesperson also mentioned it in his open letter to the prime minister. "You and your party (BJP) claim that a lot of youths have jobs in the country, but you do not have data. And, anyone who questions the government on employment issue is branded an 'anti-national' by the party's spokespersons and ministers," he alleged in the letter. Modi ...
Mamata says Modi more dangerous than Hitler
Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi more "dangerous than Hitler", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the BJP of pumping in "hawala money" in Kolkata to lure voters.
Maha CM condemns attack by TMC workers on Amit Shah's roadshow
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Tuesday condemned the scuffle during BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata saying democracy has been crushed in Bengal. Clashes broke out between BJP supporters and student activists and those of the Left and Trinamool Congress Chatra Parishad (TMCP) Tuesday after stones were pelted at Shah's convoy as it passed through College Street and the arterial Bidhan Sarani on its way to Swami Vivekananda's residence in north Kolkata. In a statement, Fadnavis said, "She has been denying permission to BJP leaders to hold rallies in the state as if Bengal was her personal property. Many BJP workers have been murdered in the state and elections have been held under the terror of TMC workers." "Maximum violence during elections has taken place in Bengal. The Election Commission should take note of these developments and ensure polls are held in free and fair manner," he said.
Vote Trinamool out to end political violence: Shah
Following the incidents of violence during his Kolkata road show, Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Tuesday accused "the goons" backed by Trinamool Congress of attacking his procession and appealed to the people to give Mamata Banerjee's party a stern reply by voting them out of power.
Cong ruled for decades with his 'mindset': PM on Aiyar's 'neech' remarks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday attacked the Congress after its leader Mani Shankar Aiyar reiterated his "neech" remark, saying the party has ruled the country for decades with this "mindset". He also said the nation was electing a strong government and was choosing from "India first", than family first. Addressing an election rally here Tuesday evening in favour of BJP candidate Kirron Kher, Modi slammed Aiyar, without naming him. "During Gujarat elections, their confidante who had occupied an important position in their government said Modi is 'neech'. There was an outrage in Gujarat and then, they (Congress) pretended to throw him out of the party. After some days, he was taken back," he said without naming Aiyar. "What they did was wrong. He openly says there was nothing wrong in abusing me. Namdaar's family and his friends ruled the country for decades with this mindset," Modi said. Aiyar, in an article Tuesday, justified his "neech" jibe against Modi, and also called him ...
US-Iran tensions: Pak says closely observing situation in region
Voicing concern over the rising tensions between the US and Iran, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday said that his country was closely observing the situation and will formulate a strategy keeping in view the national interest. Speaking with reporters after attending a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Qureshi said Pakistan was concerned over the US-Iran tensions but it will not join any camp. "This is a very sensitive issue. We are closely monitoring the situation. As situation evolves, we are trying to develop a strategy that does not hurt our interests and this region does not get destabilised," he said. He also said that Pakistan would contact Iran on the issue of building a gas pipeline which is not possible due to sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Separately, Qureshi told the National Assembly panel that the US had not imposed any visa restrictions on Pakistan. He also briefed that panel about peace efforts in ...
Priyanka claims to be Punjabi 'bahu', says make Rahul PM
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday attempted to establish an emotional link with local voters by describing herself as a Punjabi 'bahu' (daughter-in-law), saying she felt at home in Punjab and among its people.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee be barred from campaigning: BJP to EC
The BJP Tuesday urged the Election Commission to bar West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from campaigning in the state and alleged that "constitutional machinery" has collapsed there. After violence and arson marred BJP president Amit Shah's road show in Kolkata, a party delegation, including Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, rushed to the EC, seeking its immediate intervention to ensure free and fair polls in the state. Naqvi accused Banerjee of "complicity" in violence allegedly aimed at the BJP, claiming that she has been "provoking" her Trinamool Congress workers to attack the saffron party's functionaries. "She holds a constitutional post but has been using unconstitutional comments, asking her party workers to take revenge and indulge in violence. She is complicit. She should be immediately barred from campaigning," he told reporters after the BJP delegation met the EC. The "goons" of the TMC have hijacked the state administration and the ...
TN CM slams Stalin for 'double standards' on alliance
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Tuesday questioned M K Stalin's "double standards" vis-a-vis alliance, remarks that came a day after Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao called on the DMK president here. Canvassing votes for his party candidate in bypoll bound-Sulur in Coimbatore, the AIADMK veteran also slammed the DMK for seeking the State Assembly Speaker's removal after he issued notice to three party legislators for allegedly siding with rival leader T T V Dhinakaran. "DMK chief had announced (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi as the (Opposition's) Prime Ministerial candidate. But now he is meeting Chandrasekhar Rao. Why this double standards," he said. People had written their "judgment" which will be known on May 23, when the counting of votes polled in the seven phases of Lok Sabha elections will be done, the AIADMK joint coordinator said. Rao, also Telangana Rashtra Samithi supremo, has been pushing for a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front of ...
India, Pak could be discussing de-escalation along LoC: report
India and Pakistan could be discussing options of de-escalating tensions along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, a Pakistani media report claimed on Tuesday. Quoting official sources, 'The Express Tribune' newspaper reported that the channels of communication that were suspended following the Pulwama terrorist attack in February may have been restored. Pakistan and India might be discussing the options of de-escalating tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary, the paper said. Relations between India and Pakistan have been on the edge since the February 14 Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group which killed 40 CRPF personnel. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1 in an effort to de-escalate the crisis. According to ..
Search conducted in hotels occupied by Cong, JDS leaders
An election commission squad, along with income tax and enforcement directorate sleuths, Tuesday carried out searches in two hotels at Hubballi where State minister D K Shivakumar and some Congress and JD(S) leaders were staying. The sleuths seized from the rooms in the hotels gold utensils and other materials allegedly meant for bribing voters. The raids were carried out in connection with the bypoll in Kundgol seat which fell vacant following the death of sitting MLA C S Shivalli a few months ago. According to government sources, the squad carried out searches at the two hotels. While the search in one hotel was wound up soon, the search in the other lasted longer, Congress party sources said. Karnataka water resource minister D K Shivakumar (Congress) was staying at one of the hotels when the raid took place. Speaking to PTI, the minister said, The I-T officials had carried out searches in my room as well as in rooms of other congress cadre." The raids were meant to .