Page 558 - Politics
Rajnath dares opposition to name its prime ministerial candidate
Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday dared the opposition to name its prime ministerial candidate if it was sure of victory in the Lok Sabha polls, even as he asserted that his party will win more seats than it did in 2014. With only the last phase of the polls to go for 59 seats, he asked the opposition to not play "hide and seek" with people by not announcing who is its leader. He said voters should not be kept in the dark in a healthy democracy. At a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Singh claimed that a two-thirds majority for the ruling NDA cannot be ruled out as the hope and expectation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2014 polls had turned into confidence and belief this time. The BJP in 2014 had won its maiden majority by winning 282 of 543 Lok Sabha seats. The former party president also seized on Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's justification for his "neech aadmi" jibe against Modi, saying that no Indian prime minister has been ..
All eyes on PM's constituency Varanasi in last phase of polls
With the Lok Sabha elections entering the last phase, all eyes are now on Varanasi, the constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking re-election from here.
MP: Rupani prays at temple for Modi's victory in LS polls
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday visited the popular Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh and prayed for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's win in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. The senior BJP leader spent a few minutes at the temple and later claimed that a "tsunami wave of Modi" was sweeping the country in the general elections. "Rupani prayed for a strong government at the Centre and that Modiji may become the prime minister again," BJP's Ujjain unit president Vivek Joshi told PTI. He said the Gujarat chief minister paid obeisance at other some other temples here as well. Later, Rupani told reporters that a "tsunami wave of Modi" was sweeping the country in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. "Only Modiji can form a strong government. He can push forward development as he is determined to serve the 'Bharat Mata' (Mother India) with zeal, dedication and devotion." Referring to the Balakot air strike, he lauded the prime minister for being firm in ...
Mani Shankar Aiyar's comments on Modi are his personal opinion: Congress
The Congress Tuesday distanced itself from the remarks of its leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying it is his personal opinion, even as the party accused the prime minister of lowering the dignity of his office. Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said his party is not on the back foot regarding Aiyar's remarks, instead it should be Modi who should be ashamed for his remarks on former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. "Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks are his own as stated by him in his article. The Congress is neither on the back foot nor ashamed of his remarks. It's the PM who should be ashamed for lowering the dignity of the office he occupies by making disparaging remarks against former PM Rajiv Gandhi and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi. "The PM should apologise to the country for the abusive language that he has used," Shergill said, referring to Modi recently saying Rajiv Gandhi's life ended as 'Bhrashtachari No 1' ...
Modi throws 'open challenge' to oppn to prove if he amassed wealth
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday launched a scathing attack on opposition parties and threw them an "open challenge" to prove if he had amassed any asset or kept money in any foreign bank. He was addressing an election meeting here in eastern Uttar Pradesh, days before campaigning ends for the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections. "I am throwing an open challenge to the 'mahamilawati' people that if they have guts then, instead of hurling abuses at me, they should accept my challenge. "My open challenge to the 'mahamilawati' people is that they should prove if I have acquired any benami property, built any farmhouse, bungalow or shopping complex, or deposited money in any foreign bank, purchased property abroad or bought vehicles worth lakhs and crores," Modi said. The prime minister said neither had he ever dreamt of being rich, nor had he committed the sin of looting money of the poor. "We accord top priority to the welfare of the poor, the honour and security of the ...
EC team conducts searches at Tuticorin hotel
Raids were carried out at a hotel, where DMK Chief M K Stalin is scheduled to stay near here Tuesday, following reports of alleged money distribution to voters in the Ottapidaram assembly constituency, district officials said. Election Commission's flying squad searched cars of DMK functionaries apart from hotel rooms during the raid, which continued for one hour, they said. The Ottapidaram consituency in-charge K N Nehru was also staying in the same hotel. According to officials, Stalin is scheduled to campaign in support of party candidate Shanmugaiah, contesting in by-poll to Ottapidaram assembly constituency. The Election Commission had announced bypolls to four assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu on May 19, which is the last phase of polling in the Lok Sabha election. The four vacant constituencies are -- Sulur, Aravakurichi, Thirupparankundram and Ottapidaram (SC).
Putin meets Pompeo as US seeks 'a way forward' in ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday meets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the highest-level talks between the rival powers in nearly a year as they see if they can make headway on a raft of disagreements from Venezuela to Iran to arms control. Pompeo will visit Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi less than two weeks after US President Donald Trump voiced optimism about improving relations with Moscow during a more than one-hour telephone conversation with the Russian leader. The new diplomatic push followed the long-awaited report in the United States by investigator Robert Mueller which found that Russia interfered in the 2016 election but that the Trump campaign did not collude with Moscow, partially lifting a cloud that had hung over the mogul-turned-president for two years. Putin is expected to receive Pompeo Tuesday evening after the US secretary of state holds talks with Moscow's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov. "My meetings in Russia will highlight a number of ...
Mani Shankar Aiyar justifies 'neech' jibe against PM, BJP retorts strongly
After months of silence, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar was back in the news on Tuesday with an article justifying his "neech" jibe against Narendra Modi, and also calling him the most "foul-mouthed" prime minister the country has seen. The article, published in Rising Kashmir and The Print, drew sharp retorts from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which called him "abuser-in-chief" and described his party as arrogant. In the article, Aiyar also slammed Modi on a series of issues and asked, "Remember how I described him on 7 December 2017? Was I not prophetic?" In 2017, the former Union minister called Modi "neech aadmi" following which he was suspended from the Congress party. Justifying that comment, Aiyar said in his article, "Modi will, in any case, be ousted by the people of India on 23 May. That would be a fitting end to the most foul-mouthed prime minister this country has seen or is likely to see. Remember how I described him on 7 December 2017? Was I not prophetic?" Later, in ..
BJP banners removed ahead of Shah's Kolkata roadshow
A controversy erupted hours before BJP President Amit Shah's rally here on Tuesday after banners and flexes of the saffron party leaders including that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were removed from the roadside.
Desperation showing on Modi's face: Owaisi
Predicting the defeat of the BJP in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday said desperation was showing on the faces of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders.
May under pressure to drop Brexit talks with Labour
UK Prime Minister Theresa May is under intense pressure to abandon Brexit talks with the main opposition Labour Party, after a group of senior Conservative leaders issued a strongly worded warning.
Bihar Assembly polls to be fought in Modi's name: JD-U MLA
Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Amarnath Gami on Tuesday said that the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls will be contested in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi instead of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
KPSC head's request to pay for wife's trips rejected
A request by M.K. Sakeer, Chairman of the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC), asking the state government to bear expenses of his wife whenever she accompanies him on official trips has been rejected.
Students, security forces clash in Valley over Bandipora rape
A protest over Bandipora rape case turned ugly on Tuesday when agitators clashed with the security forces in Srinagar.A score of students of Amar Singh College demonstrated against the rape of a minor and hurled stones at the security personnel.The Kashmir Valley has been on the boil after a minor girl was allegedly raped by a local boy in Sumbal area of Bandipora district in north Kashmir on May 9.Police have arrested one Tahir Ahmad Mir in connection with the case.On May 12, nearly 50 security personnel deployed in the Pattan area of Jammu and Kashmir were injured after they were pelted with stones by the protesters.Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Satya Pal Malik directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to complete the investigation on a fast track so that the culprit is brought to justice.The Governor has also directed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and IG Police to personally monitor the investigation.A separate inquiry has also been ordered to check the veracity of the ..
LS Polls: PM Modi hints at not campaigning in Varanasi
Addressing the voters of his parliamentary constituency on Tuesday through a video message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted at not campaigning in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, ahead of the seventh phase of polling.Varanasi will be going to polls along with 58 other parliamentary constituencies of the country on May 19 and the campaigning for the same will end on the evening of May 17.With just three days left for campaigning, Prime Minister Modi released a dedicated message for natives of his parliamentary constituency, in which he also talked about having faith in his voters for 'handling everything'."This time when I came for the roadshow, you only ordered me to not to come and assured me that you will handle everything. I have faith in every word. For me, these were not mere words, but a promise. I know that every citizen of Kashi is himself fighting elections for and as Narendra Modi", Modi said.The Prime Minister also made appeals to the residents of the city to vote .
Complaint filed against Vijay Sardesai over 'weaponising youth' remark
The Goa Congress on Tuesday filed a complained with the Election Commission (EC) against state's Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai over his comments on "weaponising" the youth.The complainant Vivek D'Silva, who is North Goa district's Youth Congress president, has said that Sardesai's remark was "an indirect attempt to threaten voters" in the run-up to bypolls in Goa.He further claimed Sardesai made these comments with an intent to "excite disaffection and to create hatred amongst the people of Goa against the government."D'Silva further claimed that Sardesai's comments were "against the state" and demanded that he be booked for sedition.On May 7, Sardesai had reportedly said that he would "weaponise" his party's youth, if the BJP-led coalition government, which he and his party are a part of, did not reverse dilution of domicile norms for recruitment in state government as well as state-funded autonomous bodies like the Goa University."We are willing to go anywhere to protect the .
Still stand by my word not to contest next assembly polls: Siddaramaiah
Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah Tuesday termed the growing clamour within his party to make him chief minister once again as an expression of supporters' "affection", but said he still stands by his word about not contesting the next assembly polls. The Congress Legislature party Leader said he saw nothing wrong in the demand being made by his supporters. "I have made it very very clear that the chief minister's post is not vacant now (hence no question about me becoming CM). What our people are saying is, after next election I should become chief minister once again," Siddaramaiah said. Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, he said, "Is there anything that I should not become (Chief Minister) if people give their blessings? Where is that I should not become, if people bless our party?" "Have they (supporters) said I should become now? In the 2023 election if people bless Congress, Siddaramaiah may become chief minister - this is what they are saying. What is wrong in that?" he .
Iran too 'great' to be intimidated: Rouhani
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has pledged the Islamic republic is "too great to be intimidated by anyone" in a late night meeting with clerics. "God willing we will pass this difficult period with glory and our heads held high, and defeat the enemy," Rouhani said late Monday as he met Sunni clerics to mark the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, the official government website dolat.ir said. He was speaking after four ships, including two Saudi oil tankers, were reportedly attacked off the UAE coast on Sunday, in a sign of mounting regional tensions. Iran has called for an investigation into what it called an "alarming" incident. Iran and the United States have engaged in a war of words in recent weeks since Tehran began to roll back commitments set out in a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. US President Donald Trump withdraw the United States from the deal last year and has unilaterally reimposed stringent sanctions on Iran. Last month, Washington designated Iran's ...
Will rain make aircraft disappear in India?: Rahul's dig at PM Modi
Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took a dig out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'cloud-radar' remark, questioning him that whether all aircraft will disappear from the radar whenever it rains in India."Narendra Modi told officers and Air Chief of Air Force that 'it will be beneficial as radar will not be able to track aircraft in bad weather'. Narendra Modi ji, whenever it rains in India, do all the aircraft disappear from the radar?" Rahul said at a public rally here.In a recent TV interview, Modi had said that a rainy was a better pick for Balakot strikes as the clouds could help IAF fighter jets evade detection by the Pakistani radar during the operation.Raking up the issues of GST and demonetisation, Rahul claimed that the move by BJP "destroyed" the country's economy and snatched the jobs of 27,000 youth in 24 hours."Unemployment is at a 45-year high. When demonetisation and Gabbar Singh Tax came, the economy of our country got destroyed. About 27,000 youth lost their jobs in 24 .
Opposition backs terrorists, Pakistan: Modi (2nd lead)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused the Samajwadi Party (SP), BSP and the Congress of backing terrorists and Pakistan.