Page 565 - Politics
Shah "puke worthy" : TMC hits out at Shah for "Kangal Bengal"
Trinamool Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Derek O' Brien Monday lashed out against BJP president Amit Shah for his comment "Kangal Bangla" (pauper Bengal) remark calling him "puke-worthy" and a "low-life" who "insulted" the state. Derek also said that Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will get a befitting reply from the people of the state. Shah addressing a poll rally at Canning Monday said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has turned Sonar (golden) Bangla into "Kangal (pauper) Bangla". Targetting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Shah said "She is only interested in protecting infiltrators to secure her vote bank. But her vote bank won't be able to save her from imminent defeat." Retorting sharply to the comment, O'Brien said in a tweet "That puke-worthy Shah had the audacity to use the term ????? ????? Kangal Bangla today at a rally. The people of Bengal will give him and Modi a fitting reply in Phase 7. That #LowLife insults Bengal." "Puke-worthy Shah is ...
Haasan does not understand difference between assassin and terrorist: BJP
Amid a row over Makkal Needhi Maiyam founder Kamal Haasan's remarks on Nathuram Godse, the BJP said Monday Haasan does not understand the difference between an assassin and a terrorist. BJP leader and Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the actor-turned-politician was following the Congress and Communists in showing Hindus "in a bad light to appease minorities". She was responding to a question about Haasan's comments in Tamil Nadu that free India's first "terrorist" was a Hindu as he named Godse, who shot dead Mahatma Gandhi. "It proves that he does not understand the difference between an assassin and a terrorist. An assassin is very different from a terrorist. Therefore if only he goes through the entire history and also follows up on the trial of Mahatma Gandhi he would know the difference," Sitharaman told a press conference. She added, "He is in a hurry to prove that he follows the same line of appeasing minorities for the sake of his newly launched venture." Haasan's ...
Gen Rawat visits Army training command in Shimla
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat Monday visited headquarters of the Army Training Command in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla during his three-day visit to the hill-state, a defence spokesperson said. General Rawat was briefed on the training activities and initiatives by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Army Training Command (ARTRAC), Lieutenant General P C Thimmaya, he said. The Army Chief expressed his appreciation on the work being undertaken by the ARTRAC. On this occasion, General Rawat addressed all officers of ARTRAC Headquarters, including the student officers and staff of all 32 category 'A' training establishments through video conference, the spokesperson said. General Rawat, accompanied by his wife, Madhulika Rawat, also visited his alma mater, St Edwards, where they were received by the Principal, Father Anil Sequira, and given a warm welcome by the students and staff, he said. The General had an hour long interactive session with the students and motivated them to excel in ..
'Modi wave' coming from every home in India: PM, steps up attack on Cong
Crisscrossing three Hindi heartland states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said a 'Modi wave' is coming from every home in India and also escalated the attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. As the row over Gandhi's close aide Sam Pitroda's 'hua to hua' (it happened, so what) remark on the Sikh killings refused to die, Modi asked the Congress president to be "ashamed" of himself rather than pretending to scold the technocrat-turned politician. Modi also accused the previous Congress governments of using defence deals as an automated teller machine (ATM) for the party. The prime minister was addressing rallies in Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, Solan in Himachal Pradesh and Bathinda in Punjab which are going to polls in the seventh and final phase on May 19. Modi sought to dismiss "claims by pundits and planted reports from Delhi" that there is no "Modi wave" in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections like in 2014 polls. "The (Modi) wave is coming out from each
AP Exclusive: Ex-Interpol chief's wife gets asylum in France
The wife of Meng Hongwei, the former Interpol president jailed in China for what she believes are political reasons, said Monday that France has saved her life and the lives of their two young boys by granting her asylum request. The French government office that rules on asylum requests rendered its decision last week, granting her refugee status, Grace Meng's legal team said. The asylum office didn't respond to Associated Press contacts by phone and email, and the French Interior Ministry said it doesn't comment on individual cases. Grace Meng told the AP that the guarantee of being able to stay in France, where Meng Hongwei was stationed with Interpol, offers her family greater security while she pursues her struggle to get information from China about her husband's whereabouts and even whether he is still alive. "If France hadn't protected me, I would have been killed ages ago," she said. "It's a second life for us, me and my children." Her last communication with her husband was .
Iranian Foreign Minister arrives in Delhi on Tuesday
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will arrive here on Tuesday to hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj primarily on impact of the US ending waivers on import of oil from Iran, and ways to deal with it, official sources said. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Zarif will arrive at 11.45 PM on Tuesday and depart at 2:30 PM on Wednesday. His visit comes, 12 days after six-month-long exemptions from US sanctions to India and seven other countries to buy oil from Iran ended. The issue is expected to figure prominently in the talks, the sources said. After the exemptions expired on May 2, India said it will deal with the issue based on three factors -- the country's energy security, commercial consideration and economic interests. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India was prepared to deal with the impact of the US decision. In May last year, the US had brought back sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from the Iran nuclear ..
UN envoy to Mideast warns of war between Israel, Hamas
The U.N. envoy to the Mideast said Monday that the recent ceasefire between Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel was the "last chance" to prevent an all-out conflict. A Qatari envoy arrived the same day in the Palestinian enclave with cash to help cement the truce, which halted the worst round of fighting between the two sides in years. After a spate of violence killed 25 Palestinians, including 15 civilians, as well as four Israeli civilians earlier this month, Nickolay Mladenov, the U.N. diplomat, said he hopes all parties see that "the risk of war remains imminent." Mladenov, inaugurating a solar power plant for a Gaza hospital, said the parties must "consolidate the understandings" of the cease-fire. He said "the next escalation is going to be probably the last one" before the sides descend into a full-fledged war. The latest bout of fighting was the worst since a deadly and destructive war between Israel and Hamas in 2014. It ended with a cease-fire brokered by Egypt and helped by the .
Europe warns US against Iran escalation as tensions mount
Europe on Monday urged the US not to further escalate tensions over the Iran nuclear deal, with Britain issuing a stark warning of the risk of conflict erupting "by accident" in the Gulf. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a last-minute visit to Brussels where he met his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany -- the three European signatories to the 2015 accord that curbed Iran's nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions relief -- on the sidelines of a regular EU foreign ministers' gathering. Iran last week announced it was suspending some of its commitments under the agreement, a year after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord and imposed swingeing sanctions on the Islamic republic -- putting the deal in peril. Adding a military dimension to the diplomatic tensions, Washington is sending an amphibious assault ship and a Patriot missile battery to the Gulf, having already deployed an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers. Pompeo's visit to Brussels was announced ..
Operations chief of US Navy meets top Indian military leadership
Amid fast-growing maritime cooperation between the navies of India and the US, American Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Michael Richardson on Monday met top Indian military leadership to further enhance their bilateral military ties."His visit is intended to consolidate bilateral naval relations between India and USA and also to explore new avenues for naval cooperation," Naval spokesperson Captain DK Sharma said.Admiral John M Richardson held discussions with Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chairman of COSC and Chief of the Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa."He also interacted with Defence Secretary, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman COSC and the National Security Council Secretariat," officials said.Indian Navy and US Navy interact regularly at bilateral and multilateral forums and participate in maritime exercises such as MALABAR and RIMPAC. Regular 'Subject Matter Expert' exchange also takes place between ..
Lok Sabha candidates in Delhi unwind after days of hectic campaigning
From buying vegetables and spending time with family after weeks, to catching up on sleep and playing harmonium, Lok Sabha candidates in Delhi relaxed and shook off tiredness Monday, a day after polling ended in the national capital. After spending months preparing for the polls, while some preferred to let their hair down, others returned to their normal routines. Delhi Congress chief and North East Delhi candidate Sheila Dikshit stayed at home and spent time with her family, meeting leaders and workers of the party. "Sheila ji spent time with her son, daughter and sister at home and met party leaders and workers. She followed her routine like normal days," said a close aide of the former three time chief minister of Delhi. Dikshit's BJP counterpart and her rival in North East Delhi seat Manoj Tiwari, who was involved in party affairs besides campaigning, slept till 10 am to shake off tiredness. "I woke up at 10 am although usually I leave the bed around 7 am. After some stretching ..
Permission for Yogi Adityanath's Kolkata meeting cancelled :
After BJP president Amit Shah, the permission for a poll meeting by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath in the city has been cancelled, top party leader claimed Monday. Aditynath's meeting on James Long Sarani at Behala in south west Kolkata on May 15 was cancelled after the permission for it was withdrawn by the local administration, he said. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister is scheduled to address a rally at Phoolbagan in north Kolkata and another at Habra in North 24 Parganas district on the same day, ahead of the last phase of polling on May 19, the party sources said. The withdrawal of permission for Adityanath's meeting follows a similar action against BJP president Amit Shah's scheduled rally at Jadavpur Monday in the city. "Democracy is a joke in West Bengal. Permission cancelled at last moment for @AmitShah Jis rally at Jadavpur. Once again Yogi Adityanath Jis rally permission cancelled in South Kolkata. DM & CEO both are working as agent of ruling .
"Like-minded" Cong MLAs to meet after May 19 assembly bypolls
Amid coalition worries, a meeting of "like-minded" Congress MLAs will take place after bypolls to Kundgol and Chincholi assembly constituencies on May 19, Congress legislator S T Somashekar, who is the convener of the meeting, said Monday. "MLAs are busy with Chincholi and Kundgol bypolls. I will also be there from Wednesday morning till May 17 or18.. there was Bengaluru dairy election as well. So because of elections I could not speak to anyone, will speak to about 10 to 12 (legislators) and fix the date," Somashekar said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "meeting will happen, there is no problem with it, date has to finalised, May 21 is the plan, but have not spoken to everyone as all arebusy with election. Will speak to them on May 17 or 18 anddecide." Earlier, the meeting of "like-minded" MLAs called by Somashekar on April 30 was deferred citing preparations for the bypolls. The party had asked all its MLAs to work for the Chincholi and Kundgol bypolls. Congress
Iranian Foreign Minister coming to India amid tensions with US
Amid growing tensions between the US and Iran, the Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif will pay a visit here and hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tomorrow.
Forces foil attempt to revive terrorism in Pir Panjal range
The Indian Army said on Monday that the security forces have foiled attempts to revive terrorism in the south of Pir Panjal range in Jammu and Kashmir.
No difference between Congress, BJP: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday alleged that the BJP came to power by spreading lies and hatred and cautioned the people against falling for its "deception" again. Addressing a joint rally with BSP chief Mayawati, he said there is no difference between the BJP and the Congress. He claimed the opposition alliance will give the next prime minister who will fulfil the aspirations of the people of the country. "They came to power by spreading hatred and speaking lies. Can you tell me whether farmers' income has doubled? Youths are roaming around without employment "Demonetization took away the existing jobs in the country and destroyed small businesses. BJP snatched the financial assistance in education.... They are conspiring and trying to come to power with deception," he said. He blamed the Yogi Adityanath Government for the death of children allegedly due to lack of oxygen supply in BRD medical college in Gorakhpur in 2017. He also raised the issue of stray cattle. "I .
Germany 'vigilant' to Russia meddling threat in EU vote
Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said Monday Germany was looking with "heightened vigilance" to the threat of Russian online meddling in the lead-up to European Parliament elections this month. "Heightened vigilance to this issue has not only been necessary but has been practised for some time, in Germany as well as at the European level," Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert told a news conference in Berlin. "Our increased attention is not without reason. We are observing carefully the online activities of different international sources -- among them are Russian ones." Seibert was responding to renewed warnings Moscow would run disinformation and manipulation campaigns ahead of the May 23-26 election, including from European Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova who called it "a central issue" in comments to German media. The New York Times meanwhile reported that "a constellation of websites and social media accounts linked to Russia or far-right groups is spreading disinformation, ..
Kamal Haasan stirs row calling Godse 'first Hindu terrorist'
Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Monday courted controversy calling Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, as the first Hindu terrorist in independent India, remarks that drew criticism from BJP leaders and Hindu outfits.However, he got support from RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who said Godse was "much more" than a terrorist."I am not saying this because many Muslims are here. I am saying this in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue. The first terrorist in independent India is a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse," Haasan said while campaigning in Tamil Nadu's Aravakurichi assembly constituency for the by-election.He further expressed his wish for an India with equality and said, "I am a grandson of Gandhi and I am here to ask a question about that murder. This should be an equal India and the colours in our flag must be in the same proportion, this is the wish of every good Indian".Union Minister Giriraj Singh who himself makes controversial statements slammed ...
Will fight for justice of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he would fight for justice for the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims and blamed the previous Congress governments in the Centre for not delivering justice in 35 long years.
Modi says namdaar should be ashamed for Pitroda's comments on anti-Sikh riots
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday stepped up his attack on the Congress over the issue of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, saying Rahul Gandhi should be ashamed of himself rather than reprimanding Sam Pitroda for his remarks. "Congress is struggling to win 50 seats because the Congress leader is confused and their thinking is diffused," Modi while launching a scathing attack on the grand old party in his poll rally here. He said the opposition party's arrogance was at its peak. Slamming the Congress president over the issue of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Modi said he should be "ashamed" of himself rather than "pretending" as if he is scolding Congress leader Sam Pitroda for the comments. Replying to a reporter's question on the 1984 riots, Pitroda, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi and head of the Overseas Congress had last week said "Hua to hua..." Pitroda later said his words have been twisted. Modi said:"Namdaar (dynast) should be ashamed of himself for failing to get justice to victim of 1984 riots,
No work, only talk in last 5 yrs: Priyanka hits out at PM Modi
Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not doing any work as he was only interested in talking in the last five years."There has been a strange phenomenon from 2014 to 2019. In the last five years, there has been no work. There has been only campaigning and nothing else," Priyanka said at a public rally here.Claiming that Modi remained "silent" on the plight of farmers, Priyanka said that the Prime Minister did not have time to visit the house of a poor in Varanasi in the last five years."The Prime Minister does not even have the time to visit a poor's house in his own parliamentary constituency in Varanasi. He is giving big speeches on farmers. But he did not care for the farmers. He remained silent when about 12,000 farmers committed suicide," she added.Priyanka further said, "When farmers from all states marched to Delhi and raised their issues, our Prime Minister remained silent. They wanted to meet