Page 596 - Politics
France opposes 'repeated' Brexit extensions
France on Friday said that it refuses to put up with repeated extensions of UK's exit from the European Union (EU), according to a French Presidential adviser.This comes after the UK was granted an extension to leave the EU by October 31 this year, after failing to do the same on March 29 and April 12. The latest extension was given after the British Parliament voted down Prime Minister Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement thrice.The adviser further lay emphasis on finding a solution before the latest deadline, according to Sputnik.France has previously voiced concerns about giving the UK an extension, with its President Emmanuel Macron stating that "nothing should be taken for granted," ahead of a crucial EU meeting on Brexit last month.Despite the Brexit deadlock, the United Kingdom will be participating in the European Parliament elections slated for May 23, as per May's de facto deputy David Lidington.The British Prime Minister has been making continuous efforts to push her ...
It is 'unfair' that India is not in UNSC: Taiwan
Taiwan on Friday made a strong pitch for India's inclusion in the UN Security Council (UNSC), saying it needs to be reconstituted as the veto power is with very few countries which is disproportionate to the membership of the United Nations.
Russia, Japan say differences remain over disputed islands
Russia and Japan's top diplomats said Friday there was a way to go before their countries could resolve a World War II-era dispute over a chain of islands, following a meeting in Moscow. Ahead of talks, Russia's Sergei Lavrov said "significant differences" remained between Moscow and Tokyo's positions, despite several previous rounds of negotiations. "The task is not easy, it's clear it will only be solved by long, painstaking and creative work," Lavrov told journalists following his meeting with Japanese counterpart Taro Kono. The territorial dispute centres on four islands, between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, seized by the Soviet army in the last days of World War II. The string of volcanic islands are called the Kurils by Russia and the Northern Territories by Japan. "Solving a problem that remains unresolved more than 70 years on from the end of the war is not easy," Kono said at a joint press conference, in remarks translated into Russian. "It cannot be said that as
Digvijay Singh, Sadhvi Pragya locked in keen contest in Bhopal
The third phase of polling for eight Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh will decide the fate of several prominent candidates, including Digvijay Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia, who are the Congress candidates, and the BJP's Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar. The contest between Congress' Digvijay Singh and Hindutva activist and Malegaon blast case accused Pragya Thakur in Bhopal will be one of the most keenly watched fights in the election. Political observers say that in order to shed his pro-minorities image, Digvijay Singh peddled the 'soft Hindutva' line by roping in seers, including Computer Baba (Namdeo Das Tyagi) who conducted 'hath yoga' and set afire cow dung cakes. They also conducted a roadshow in support of Digvijay Singh in the state capital to woo voters. On the other hand, Pragya Thakur highlighted her alleged torture in police custody to win the sympathy of voters in Bhopal, which has been a BJP bastion since 1989. She also blamed ...
Ajoy Mehta new Maha Chief Secretary, Pardeshi named BMC chief
Mumbai municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta has been appointed as Maharashtra's new chief secretary, a CMO official said Friday. Mehta succeeds UPS Madan who has been named as the special advisor to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the official said. Senior IAS official Praveen Pardeshi has been appointed the new BMC chief, succeeding Mehta. Pardeshi, additional chief secretary to the Chief Minister, is a 1985-batch IAS officer.
Campaign ends for sixth phase of elections in Bengal
With Lok Sabha 2019 elections reaching its penultimate stage, the campaign ended on Saturday in eight parliamentary constituencies of West Bengal that will vote in the sixth phase on May 12.
Gritty ex-cop takes on Bengali matinee idol in Ghatal
A retired cop known as an overbearing officer in his service life, but hounded by the state's law enforcement agencies, is now striving to shoot down a Bengali matinee idol's colourful Lok Sabha re-election bid in Ghatal, triggering a thrilling and dramatic contest that is making headlines all over.
Robert Vadra visits Mumbai temple, greeted by 'Modi' chants
Businessman Robert Vadra on Friday made a flying visit to Mumbai and offered prayers at the famous Mumbadevi Temple here.
Will reply with love to any hatred about my family: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said he will reply with love to any hatred spread about him and his family by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Modi did no credit to PM office by launching vicious campaign of calumny against Rajiv Gandhi: Kumar
With political discourse hitting a new low in Lok Sabha polls, senior Congress leader Ashwani Kumar on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done no credit to his office by launching a "vicious campaign of calumny" against former PM Rajiv Gandhi and he cannot denigrate martyrs. The former Law Minister also attacked the BJP over what he called "attempts to appropriate patriotism and nationalism, as if it were a monopoly of the saffron party and the Prime Minister" and said it is the first time that a prime minister has used the valour of the armed forces to impose his idea of nationalism. Amid rampant name-calling and no-holds barred tirade against each other, the Congress and the BJP have accused each other of lowering the level of political discourse in the country. "Despite an element of competition and conflict inherent in democratic politics, the level of political discourse has plummeted to an unprecedented low. In a break with finer political tradition, a serving Prime ...
Congress distances itself from Pitroda's 1984 comment
Congress on Friday issued a statement distancing itself from comments on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots made by its Indian Overseas Congress Chief Sam Pitroda asserting that justice must be given to victims of both 1984 and 2002 riots. The party also cautioned its leaders to be more careful and sensitive."Any opinion or remark made by any individual to the contrary including Sam Pitroda is not the opinion of the Congress party," the party said in a statement today.Stating that the party and its leadership have strived to ensure justice for the 1984 riot victims, Congress said, "We continue to support the quest for justice and stern punishment for those found guilty in 1984 riots as also the subsequent acts of violence including the 2002 Gujarat riots,"."Congress party believes that justice should be done to 1984 riots victims as also to 2002 Gujarat riots victims. We abhor violence of any kind, against any person or a group of people based on their caste, colour, region or religion. This is
Kumaraswamy to campaign for Congress in assembly by-polls
: Ending speculation about his participation in campaigning, amid strains in the ruling Congress-JD(S) government, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will canvass for Congress candidates in Kundgol and Chincholi assembly by-polls on May 13 and 14. Kumaraswamy, who will reach Kundgol via Hubballi on Monday evening, will campaign for the Congresscandidate there, the Chief Minister's office said here Friday. The next day he will travel to Kalaburagi and participate in some programmes there, before leaving forChincholi to take part in the campaign event there, thetentative schedule of the Chief Minister shared with the media, said. The JD(S), which does not have much presence in the region,is supporting its alliance partner Congress' candidates inboth the seats that are going for the May 19 bypolls. Kumaraswamy's non-participation in campaigning had given rise to speculations in political circles thatthings are not right between the alliance partners. The Chief ...
Very strong pro-AAP wave in Delhi, similar to 2015 assembly polls: Kejriwal
There is a "very strong" wave in favour of the AAP in Delhi, similar to the 2015 Assembly elections when it won 67 out of 70 seats, party supremo and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday. Polling for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will be held in the sixth phase of the general elections on Sunday. The AAP national convenor, in an interview to PTI on a wide range of topics, said Delhiites are "extremely happy" with his party's works in the national capital especially in the fields of education, health, water, electricity, road and sewage. He claimed that Hindus will not vote for the Congress, and the grand old party is now focusing on Muslim votes and this is borne out in its senior leadership, including Priyanka Gandhi, holding rallies in areas of Delhi that are dominated by the community. "Till one month ago, I felt that there would be a very strong fight. But now I am feeling the atmosphere is similar to that of the 2015 Assembly elections when the AAP had a landslide ..
Pitroda apologises, says statement on anti-Sikh riots blown out of proportion
Under attack over his remarks "happened, so what" on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Congress leader Sam Pitroda on Friday apologised for that saying they were blown out of proportion because his Hindi is not good.His apology came after BJP leaders, Sikh groups and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked Pitroada. The prime minister even said it should not be taken as views of an individual but of the Congress party which was arrogant on the issue from the beginning. Congress also distanced itself from his remarks."The statement I made was completely twisted, taken out of context because my Hindi is not good, what I meant was 'jo hua vo bura hua,' (what happened was bad), I could not translate 'bura' (bad) in my mind," Pitroda, a confidant of Congress President Rahul Gandhi said."What I meant was move on. We have other issues to discuss as to what BJP government did and what it delivered. I feel sorry that my remark was misrepresented, I apologise. This has been blown out of proportion," ..
Modi on Time magazine cover with controversial headline
American news magazine Time has featured Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the cover of its May 20 international edition with a headline that may create controversy across India amid the election season.
Pollution, sanitation, unauthorised colonies to be key polls issues in East Delhi
Pollution, sanitation and unauthorised colonies are some of the issues that will play a key role in deciding the electoral fate of the AAP, the BJP and the Congress in the East Delhi parliamentary constituency. One of the highly populated Lok Sabha constituencies, East Delhi has a mix of affluent, middle class and low-profile clusters. It has majorly been a BJP bastion for around the last three decades with the exception of two terms of Sandeep Dikshit, son of former chief minister Sheila Dikshit. Residents of East Delhi see the election as a battle between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. Majority of locals point out that despite unauthorised colonies being a prominent agenda of political parties for long, nothing has been done yet and several pockets are still struggling for basic amenities like sanitation, clean drinking water and getting fixed the blocked sewers. "These neighbourhoods have problems related to sanitation,
Targeting assassinated PM Rajiv Gandhi terrible: Vadra
In an obvious attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for targeting his late father-in-law Rajiv Gandhi, Robert Vadra on Friday said disparaging an assassinated prime minister to mislead people is "terrible".
TMC mobilises ex-Maoists, resistance group members to halt BJP's surge
West Bengal's ruling TMC has put together an army of former Maoists and those who fought the ultras to counter the BJP, which has emerged as its main challenger, in Jangalmahal. A former Maoist stronghold, Jangalmahal comprises Jhargram, Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia districts. Some of the cadres were members of dreaded Maoist-backed People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), while some were part of village resistance groups, like Jan Jagaran Manch, which fought the ultras during 2010-12, when killing was the order of the day in Jangalmahal. West Midnapore district president of Trinamool Congress (TMC), Ajit Maity, who is one of the main architects of the force, said the force is the need of the hour as the fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is both political and ideological. "To fight a cadre-based party like the BJP, whose ideology is driven by religion, you also need cadre-based regimentation. And these former Maoists, PCAPA members have a very good ...
Mahagathbandhan disintegrated, NDA may win all 40 seats in
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi Friday claimed that constituents of the "Mahagathbandhan" are trying ensure defeat of the candidates of each other, and it will not be surprising if the BJP-led NDA wins all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The opposition grand alliance is fragmented and disintegrated, while the NDA is marching ahead unitedly, the senior BJP leader said before embarking on a roadshow here in favour of JD(U) nominee Alok Kumar Suman from Gopalganj (SC) constituency. "It will not be surprising if the NDA wins all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, given the fragmented and disintegrated opposition which stands nowhere against NDA in Bihar," Modi told reporters. "A triangular fight is on in most of the seats of Bihar. Parties of the grand alliance are trying to beat the candidates of each another," he claimed without elaborating. The opposition parties want a weak and fragile government at the Centre so that they can bargain with and get their
Electioneering ends for 14 UP seats; Akhilesh, Maneka among candidates
Hectic electioneering ended Friday evening for 14 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, including those for which Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Union minister Maneka Gandhi are in the fray. The constituencies will go to the polls in on Monday, the sixth phase of voting nationwide. For the BJP, campaigning peaked on Thursday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed three back-to-back rallies in Azamgarh, Jaunpur and Allahabad. The same day, party president Amit Shah made his presence felt at four other meetings. The prime minister had also addressed two rallies in Pratapgarh and Basti last Saturday. The opposition alliance in the state also focused on the Purvanchal region in the last few days. SP's Akhilesh Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party's Mayawati and Rashtriya Lok Dal's Ajit Singh held a series of election meetings. For the Congress, its general secretary Priyanka Gandhi led the campaigning, holding meetings and roadshows in Pratapgarh, Siddharthnagar and Sant Kabirnagar ..