Page 577 - Politics
Iran facing 'unprecedented pressure' from sanctions, says Hassan Rouhani
Iran is facing 'unprecedented pressure' from international sanctions and the country could be under worse economic conditions than during the 1980-88 war with Iraq, said President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday.Rouhani, who is facing domestic political pressure, has called for the unity among political factions to overcome the effect of sanctions."Today, it cannot be said whether conditions are better or worse than the (1980-88) war period, but during the war we did not have a problem with our banks, oil sales or imports and exports, and there were only sanctions on arms purchases," Iran's state news agency IRNA quoted Rouhani as saying."The pressure by enemies is a war unprecedented in the history of our Islamic revolution, but I do not despair and have great hope for the future and believe that we can move past these difficult conditions provided that we are united," he added.Hardliners have criticised Rouhani after US President Donald Trump withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with ...
WB: BJP demands ban on entry of outsiders 48 hours before polls
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday demanded the Election Commission to ban entry of outsiders in the Lok Sabha constituencies, 48 hours ahead of the commencement of the elections.The BJP also demanded that the history-sheeters should be arrested hours before the elections."We have demanded that outsiders be not allowed in the Lok Sabha constituencies, 48 hours before the elections, and that history-sheeters be arrested. Our candidate Bharati Ghosh's car was stopped and we have demanded action against the officers involved," BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters after meeting West Bengal CEO.West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Aariz Aftab has sought a report from District Magistrate of Ghatal in West Bengal regarding the attack on BJP candidate Bharati Ghosh's convoy earlier on Sunday.The BJP accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers of attacking Ghosh's convoy and obstructing her entry into a polling booth in Keshpur.Ghosh, a former IPS officer, is contesting from ...
Yechury seeks action against PM Modi for violating Model Code of Conduct
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury on Sunday sought action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly violating the Modal Code of Conduct (MCC) by seeking votes by using armed forces and influencing voters during the silent period by giving out 'operational details' of Balakot strike conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Pakistan."Modi gave out operational details of a sensitive military mission, with a purpose to influence the voters during the silent period of the campaign needs to be recorded and acted upon by the Election Commission," Yechury wrote in a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI)."His (Modi) behaviour and statements are in clear and deliberate violation of the guidelines, which were reissued and reiterated by EC before the first round of polling, which made it clear that the armed forces which belong to all of India, cannot be a subject for hyperbolic and false claims by any party for garnering votes," he added in the letter.Yechury's was referring to an
Priyanka's first-time voter son misses voting
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra's 19-year-old son Rehan, a first-time voter, was conspicuous by his absence on Sunday as his parents came out to vote in the sixth phase of polling in Delhi.
Priyanka hugs her 90-year-old neighbour after voting
In a heart-warming gesture on Sunday, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hugged and greeted her 90-year-old neighbour Jwala Devi after casting her vote.
Cong hatched 'Hindu terror' conspiracy to defame religious heritage: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Congress of hatching the 'Hindu terror' conspiracy to defame the country's religious heritage. Modi also referred to Congress leader Sam Pitroda's "hua to hua" (whatever happened, has happened) remark on the anti-Sikh riots in 1984, saying it showed the Opposition party's mentality. "The Congress has hatched the 'Hindu atankwad' (terrorism) conspiracy to defame our religious heritage," Modi said at an election meeting in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. "No matter how many 'janeu' (sacred thread) they will show, the Congress and its 'mahamilavat' (highly-adulterated) allies will never escape from the sin of putting blot of terrorism on the saffron colour of Hindu religion." The prime minister hit out the Congress by pointing out to Pitroda's "hua to hua" remarks. "The Congress even ensured the escape of Bhopal gas tragedy accused (Warren Anderson) as they believe in 'hua to hua'," Modi said. "Kishore Kumar's songs were banned during the ...
60 per cent polling till 4 pm in 4 LS seats in Jharkhand
An estimated 60 per cent of the over 66.85 lakh electorate exercised their franchise till 4 pm in four Lok Sabha constituencies of Jharkhand on Sunday, during the third phase of polls in the state, an election official said. No untoward incident incident was reported from any part of the state, he said. An estimated 60 per cent turnout has been recorded, and it will increase. The final figure will be available around 6 PM," the official said here. The polling, which ended at 4 pm, was held in Singhbhum (ST), Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Giridih parliamentary seats. Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and his family members cast their votes in Jamshedpur constituency. Policemen were seen helping the sick and the differently abled voters cast their votes in Jamshedpur. A 106-year-old woman, Pupalata Pal, voted at a booth in Rajkiya Kanya Uchh Vidyala in Chaibasa under Singhbhum constitutency. Pal has been voting in Chaibasa since the first general elections, an official ...
Congress should have contested at least 12 seats in Bihar: Shakeel
Former Union Minister Shakeel Ahmad, suspended by the Congress for contesting the Lok Sabha elections as an Independent from Madhubani, has said the partys action against him was harsh and that he contested the polls as the candidate of the Grand Alliance was "weak" to defeat the BJP.
Oppn creating rift using Parrikar's son's name: Goa BJP chief
The Goa BJP Sunday said opposition parties were trying to create a rift in it by using the name of former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal, who was not given a ticket for the Panaji bypoll. The bypoll, scheduled for May 19, was necessitated due to the death of Parrikar on March 17. The Congress and the Goa Suraksha Manch have been claiming the BJP did injustice to Utpal by not giving him a party ticket for the Panaji bypoll. The BJP's candidate for the seat is former MLA Siddharth Kunkolienkar. "No one projected the name of Utpal Parrikar (for Panaji bypoll). His name, along with that Kunkolienkar, was discussed and then recommended to the BJP central committee, which chose Kunkolienkar," Goa BJP chief Vinay Tendulkar told reporters here. Utpal Parrikar had issued a statement after Kunkolienkar's nomination in which he said he respected the party's decision and would continue to work for its victory in the polls.
Haryana sees 51.80% voting till 4 p.m. (Third Lead) (4 p.m.)
Haryana on Sunday witnessed 51.80 per cent voting till 4 p.m. for the state's 10 Lok Sabha seats, an official said.
Third gender group from Churu wishes Rahul poll win
Congress President Rahul Gandhi was taken by surprise when a group of third genders from Rajasthan visited his residence, here on Sunday, to wish him and his party victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Army chief to visit forward areas during three-day Himachal visit
Army chief General Bipin Rawat will visit forward areas of Himachal Pradesh's capital during his three-day visit here to have a firsthand view of the security situation and the preparedness of the troops deployed, a defence spokesperson said. Gen Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat arrived here on Sunday, he said. He will call upon Governor Acharya Devvrat, the spokesperson said. On arrival at Annandale, the Army chief was received by Chief of Staff Army Training Command (ARTRAC) Lt Gen G S Sangha and his wife Amanpreet Kaur Sangha. The chief of the Army Staff in due course of his visit will take stock of the institutionalised training being undertaken in the 32 category 'A' establishments in the Indian Army, he said. He will be briefed on new initiatives being initiated by ARTRAC headquarters in keeping with technological developments in the environment. Gen Rawat will also interact with veterans and their families located in Shimla, the spokesperson added.
PM revealing details of a sensitive military operation is a poll code violation, CPI(M) writes to EC
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has written to the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly violating the poll code by sharing operational details of a "sensitive" defence mission in a television interview to influence voters. In his letter to the EC, Yechury has alleged Modi's statements were in clear and deliberate violation of the guidelines which were re-issued and reiterated by the Election Commission before the first round of polling, making it clear that the armed forces, which belong to all of India, cannot be a subject for hyperbolic and false claims by any party. In an interview on Saturday, Modi had said he approved the Indian Air Force's cross-border mission in Balakot, Pakistan, despite inclement weather and against the advise of experts as he felt cloud cover would hide the Indian fighter jets from Pakistani radar. Modi said he relied on his "raw wisdom" to dispel the doubts of the defence experts who had planned the mission. "I am .
Punjab CM ridicules Harsimrat's charges of disrupting rallies
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday ridiculed Akali leader and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal's allegations of the Congress government in the state disrupting her poll rallies.
Kovind, Naidu among prominent people who vote in Delhi on Sunday
President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi were among the prominent people who voted in Delhi on Sunday. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former CM and Congress's North-East Delhi candidate Sheila Dikshit and Airtel Managing Director Sunil Bharti Mittal also cast their vote. While Kovind cast his vote at Sarvodaya Vidalaya within the Rashpati Bhawan complex at 9 am, Rahul Gandhi, Mittal and Swaraj exercised their franchise at a polling booth on Aurangzeb Road. After casting his vote, the vice-president, who came to vote at Nirman Bhawan following completion of his four-day visit to Vietnam, appealed to people to come out and exercise their voting right. "We are the largest democracy in the world. Vote is not only a right but also a pious responsibility," he told reporters here. Mittal said, "We need to save the ...
May 23 results will send PM and TN CM home: CPI
The results of Lok Sabha elections and by-polls to 22 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu would change the fate of the state and send both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K Palaniswami home, CPI State secretary R Mutharasan said Sunday. Campaigning in support of Secular Progressive Alliance candidate and DMK's Pongalur N Palanisamy in Sulur near here, Mutharasan alleged Modi was pursuing only anti-people schemes like Sterlite, Methane projects in Tamil Nadu. In this backdrop, he was not able to highlight the achievements of the government, instead seeking votes by talking ill of the family of Jawaharlal Nehru, who had sacrificed his life for the nation, he said.
Nearly 52 pc voting in Haryana till 4 pm; polling peaceful
A voter turnout of 51.93 per cent was recorded till 4 pm in the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana on Sunday, with Kurukshetra and Hisar constituencies witnessing brisk polling. Polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, officials said. While poll officials said voting was going on smoothly, Congress' Rohtak candidate Deepender Singh Hooda, who is seeking re-election for a fourth term, accused Haryana Minister and Rohtak MLA Manish Grover of "intimidating" voters by forcibly entering some polling booths. Grover, however, rejected the charge claiming that Deepender Singh Hooda, who is the son of former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, made baseless allegations in the face of "imminent defeat". The poll percentage recorded till 4 pm was 51.93 per cent, poll officials said. Kurukshetra, from where Haryana minister Nayab Singh Saini is pitted against Congress' Nirmal Singh and INLD's Arjun Chautala, recorded a poll percentage of 56.99 while Hisar recorded 55.50 per cent ...
Naqvi targets Mamata, says Raj tantra has turned into 'goonda tantra' in WB
Hitting out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over recent attacks on BJP leaders in the state, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday said "raj tantra" has turned into "goonda tantra" here. "Bengal has become a laboratory of 'goonda-tantra' and 'goonda-tantra liberty'. Raj tantra has turned into goonda tantra in the state. Constant attacks by goonda tantra show that they do not believe in our constitution. Didi's ego and intellect will choo-mantra (vanish) on May 23, when results of the ongoing Lok Sabha election will come out. After May 23, some political parties have to fight very hard for their recognition," said Naqvi here at a press conference.Taking on Mamata Banerjee for murder and continuous attacks on BJP cadres in the state, Naqvi said: "BJP booth president Narendra Mandal was murdered, the convoys of our Lok Sabha candidate Bharati Ghosh and BJP state-unit president Dilip Ghosh were vandalised early today. BJP leaders and workers are being prevented to ...
KPSC head asks Kerala to pay for his wife's travel
Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) Chairman M.K. Sakeer has asked the government to foot the travel expenses of his wife whenever she accompanies him on official trips.
PM doing 'dirty politics' over Alwar gang rape case: Mayawati
Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his charge that she was "shedding crocodile tears" over the Alwar gang rape incident, BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday accused him of indulging in "dirty politics" and demanded his resignation for incidents of Dalit atrocities in the past. Hours after the prime minister's remarks at election rallies in Kushinagar and Deoria earlier in the day, Mayawati said, "In the wake of this incident, Modi is doing dirty politics." On the prime minister's challenge to her to withdraw support to the Congress government in Rajasthan, she said, "The BSP will for sure take an appropriate political decision in the absence of stringent and proper legal action in the case." In a press note issued here, Mayawati also demanded Modi's resignation over cases pertaining to Dalit atrocities such as the Una flogging incident and the Rohit Vemulla case taking moral responsibility. On April 26, the woman was travelling with her husband on a motorcycle when the ...