Page 600 - Politics
Pitroda rubbed salt into wounds of 1984 riot victims: Naqvi
Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi hit out at Congress leader Sam Pitroda on Friday for his comments on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, saying he had rubbed salt into the wounds of the victims of the tragedy. Describing the Congress as a "caucus of mentally bankrupt intellectuals", Naqvi alleged that the opposition party, through its "criminal silence" on Pitroda's remarks, was once again trying to justify the brutal killings of Sikhs in 1984. Pitroda, whom the minority affairs minister described as Congress president Rahul Gandhi's "guru" (teacher), had rubbed salt into the wounds of the victims of the brutal anti-Sikh riots of 1984, he said. Hitting out at Congress leaders for calling Narendra Modi a "weak PM", Naqvi said the prime minister had kicked out middlemen from the corridors of power in Delhi, exposed and isolated Pakistan's "factory of terrorism", and succeeded in getting Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar declared as a global terrorist. Modi had demolished the evil designs of .
BJP seeks apology from Sonia, Rahul over Pitroda's remarks
The BJP on Friday demanded an apology from UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi over Indian Oversees Congress chief Sam Pitroda's remarks on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
TRS may skip meeting of opposition parties on May 21
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi will not be part of a planned meeting of opposition parties on May 21 to chalk out a post-poll alliance, a key party leader indicated Friday. Karimnagar MP B Vinod Kumar, a confidant of TRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said the party can't be part of any meeting with TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu met Congress President Rahul Gandhi two days ago and and more or less agreed to call a meeting of Opposition parties on May 21, sources had said. Speaking to PTI here, Kumar said: "We can't be part of any meeting with Chandrababu Naidu. That's very clear". The TRS position does not come as a surprise as Naidu and KCR, as the Telangana Chief Minister is referred to by many, don't see eye-to-eye. Taking on the TRS, the TDP headed by Naidu had fought last year's Assembly elections in Telangana in alliance with the Congress. Campaigning at the time saw KCR launching an all-out attack on ...
Modi slams Congress over Pitroda's remark on 1984 riots
Upping the ante against Congress leader Sam Pitroda over his reported "Hua toh hua" (it just happened) remarks on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the Congress for its "arrogance".
Modi's lie on INS Viraat blown away by Navy officers: Chidambaram
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday why he "repeats lies without verifying facts" and said top Navy officers had blown away his lie about former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Naval warship INS Viraat. The former Union minister also hit out at Modi over his comments that there was no evidence of cross-border actions under the previous UPA government and asked him to speak to the Army general who said such steps were not taken for the first time under the current government. "Another lie of Mr Narendra Modi blown away. Top officers of Navy have testified that Mr Rajiv Gandhi was on an official visit to INS VIRAAT. "I am curious: who feeds these lies to the Prime Minister? Why does the PM repeat the lies without verifying the facts," he tweeted. Attacking Modi for not acknowledging the cross-border strikes of the UPA era, Chidambaram said, "If PM did not find evidence of cross-border actions under the UPA government, that means ...
Trump: Kerry must be prosecuted for meeting Iranians
US President Donald Trump has said that former Secretary of State John Kerry should be prosecuted for discussing the 2015 nuclear deal with Iranian officials after leaving office.
Ajoy Mehta appointed Chief Secretary in Maharashtra
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Ajoy Mehta will be the new Chief Secretary of Maharashtra and expected to take charge from Friday.His appointment was cleared by the Election Commission as the poll code of conduct in place due to ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the country.The present Chief Secretary UPS Madan will be made the special Advisor (Chief Secretary grade) to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.Mehta is a 1984-batch IAS officer and holds the distinction of being the longest-serving BMC commissioner.He will retire in September this year.
Amit Shah to hold roadshow in Patna on Saturday
BJP President Amit Shah is to hold a roadshow here on Saturday, a day ahead of the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls, a party leader said on Friday.
Temperatures soar, stakes increase in UP sixth phase
Temperatures are rising all around and as Uttar Pradesh prepares to vote in the sixth phase of the general election, the stakes are getting higher for all political parties and alliances.
What Congress couldn't do in 55 years, Modi did in 5 years: Yogi Adityanath
"What Congress could not do in 55 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did in 5 years," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday."You must have seen this about Modiji...what Congress could not do in 55 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did in 5 years. Be it pensions for senior citizens and widows, loan waivers, home to poor, electricity connection and gas connections to the poor and a lot more," Adityanath told a rally here.Launching an attack on the opposition, he said that all those people who do not like the growing reputation of India are against Modi."The opposition has gone to such an extent that they ask why are you chanting 'Jai Shree Ram'. Some say Lord Ram had no existence. Remarks of (Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party--Lohia leader) Shivpal Yadav are also disturbing," Adityanath said.The SP-BSP-RLD alliance in Uttar Pradesh will be in existence only till May 23 when the counting of votes in the Lok Sabha elections will be held, he claimed."After the results, .
US B-52 bombers land in Qatar over unspecified Iran threat
B-52 bombers ordered by the White House to deploy to the Persian Gulf to counter unspecified threats from Iran have arrived at a major American air base in Qatar, the U.S. Air Force acknowledged Friday. Images released by the U.S. Air Force's Central Command show B-52H Stratofortress bombers arriving at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Thursday night. Others landed at an undisclosed location Wednesday in "southwest Asia," the Air Force said. The U.S. military in the past has described its presence at both the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates and Al Udeid as "southwest Asia." The Air Force identified the aircraft as coming from the 20th Bomb Squadron of Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. On Sunday, the White House announced it would send the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group and the bombers into the Persian Gulf to counter Tehran. The Lincoln on Thursday passed through the Suez Canal on its way to the Persian Gulf. The administration of President Donald ..
'PM Modi criticising Nehru-Gandhi family has only reinforced their legacy'
At a time when the Nehru-Gandhi family is facing constant criticism from the ruling BJP, several Congress leaders in Allahabad feel that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his colleagues attacking the family members for "political gains" has only "revived and reinforced" their legacy. The twin constituencies of Allahabad and Phulpur in the district will go to polls on May 12 and a section of the Congress cadres in the holy city, also said that "abuses hurled upon Nehru" in the past few years, has only galvanised them into fighting this election with "greater resolve". "Allahabad is the birthplace of Nehruji, his 'janmabhoomi' and 'karmabhoomi' and despite all the negative propaganda being purveyed by the BJP against him, he is still revered by a majority of people here. Nehru's legacy is something that cannot be written away by its detractors," said Ramji Pandey, a senior Congress leader. He rued that Allahabad city's "pluralistic essence" was getting "diminished", alleging it was due ..
Modi pooh-poohs attempts by regional parties to form govt, says Congress will get less than 44
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dismissed the possibility of formation of a government led by regional political parties at the Centre saying BJP and NDA would get more than its present numbers and form a strong government with full majority.The Congress would go down from its present strength of 44 because people are not ready to vote for that party, he told ANI here in the midst of his whirlwind campaign in Haryana.Asked about the moves by the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to form a government on the expectation that BJP will not get a majority, Modi said, "People are saying that BJP will get more seats than it has now. The allies in the NDA will get more seats than now. We will get a strong government with full majority. We are getting more seats in areas where we don't have enough seats now. We are getting seats from all corners of India."The Prime Minister said the Congress has been indulging in a campaign of lies for which there is no need for a proof. ..
Sapna Chaudhary, Khesari Lal in Manoj Tiwari road show
On the last day of campaigning in the national capital, North East Delhi's BJP candidate Manoj Tiwari held a massive road show in his constituency along with Haryanvi folk singer Sapna Chaudhary and Bhojpuri actor-singer Khesari Lal.
Will protect India on land, air, space: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that if voted back to power, his government will continue to take stringent action against terrorism like they did post-Pulwama terror attack.Prime Minister Modi was responding to a question if he will take action against Dawood Ibrahim like his government did in getting Masood Azhar listed as global terrorist recently."Don't waste your time by taking names. If there will be any danger to the country, no matter where it might be -- on land, in air or even in space -- we have taken steps, we will continue to take steps," Modi, in an exclusive interview, told ANI.The Prime Minister added that he will continue to work against terrorism or any other threat to national security.In a major diplomatic win for India, Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar was listed as a global terrorist by the UN on May 1.This came after China removed its technical hold on the latest proposal seeking Masood's blacklisting, following the Pulwama terror attack, during ..
Trump to nominate ex-Boeing executive as Pentagon chief
US President Trump plans to nominate acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan to formally take over the top spot at the Pentagon, officials said.
Israel lifts Gaza fishing ban as calm returns
Israel lifted a ban on Friday on Palestinian fishing boats putting to sea off Gaza, an Israeli military body said, ending a measure imposed during a deadly flare-up of violence earlier this month. The measure is seen as a first step in implementing a fragile truce meant to avert a new conflict between the army and Palestinian militants. "Friday, the Gaza Strip fishing zone is expected to reopen at a range of up to 12 nautical miles," the Israeli military body responsible for the Palestinian territories, COGAT, said. "Application of the measure is conditioned on the Gaza Strip fishermen respecting the agreements." The Israeli navy often fires on Gazan boats it says have exceed the limits it enforces. The fishing union in Gaza confirmed the lifting of the ban. Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets at Israel on Saturday and Sunday, with the army striking dozens of targets in Gaza in response. Four Israeli civilians and 25 Palestinians, including at least nine ...
Over 20 Congress lawmakers unhappy, may decide soon: B S Yeddyurappa
Stirring a hornet's nest, Karnataka BJP president B S Yeddyurappa on Friday said that over 20 Congress lawmakers in the state are unhappy with the incumbent government."More than 20 Congress MLAs are not happy with the present government. They might take any decision any time soon. Let us wait and see," the former chief minister told ANI, refraining from making a clear statement.Exuding confidence, he said that the Bharatiya Janata Party would win by-polls for both Assembly seats -- Chincholi and Kundgol -- which are scheduled to vote on May 19.Yeddyurappa criticised the government over the recent gang-rape of a woman in Mysore. "The law and order have collapsed in the state. No one is bothered, the government is keeping quiet on the issue."The comment came a day after a woman was raped, while her boyfriend was badly beaten by four men. When the boy resisted, he was bludgeoned with a stone. A case has been registered and the police are on the look-out for the four accused person.
No alliance with MGP at least during current tenure: Sawant
The ruling BJP in Goa will not have any alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) at least for the remaining tenure of the party-led government in the state, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said. The MGP, Goa's oldest regional party, had won three seats in the 2017 assembly polls and later joined the BJP-led ruling coalition. The MGP suffered a jolt when two of its MLAs joined the BJP in March, soon after Sawant took charge, ending the alliance between the two parties. Talking to PTI Thursday, Sawant said the MGP supporting the Congress during the last month's Lok Sabha elections in Goa will not have any adverse impact on the BJP's prospects. Voting for the two Lok Sabha seats in Goa, where the BJP and the Congress were the main rivals, was held on April 23. Sawant said the BJP will not have any truck with the MGP for the remaining tenure of his government. The BJP chief minister said his party-led ruling coalition is working smoothly with support of the ..
Hundreds of Sikhs killed and they say "hua so hua": PM tears into Congress
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tore into the Congress on Friday over Sam Pitroda's "so what" remark on 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The Congress attaches no value to human lives lost in riots, Modi said with regard to the Overseas Congress chief's comment."Yesterday one of the biggest Congress leaders said, "so what if the 1984 riots happened". This leader is one of the biggest confidantes of the Gandhi family, he was a close friend of Rajiv Gandhi and a guru for Rahul Gandhi. He attaches no value to the lives of people. Hundreds of Sikhs were torched after throwing petrol diesel on them, burning tires were put around their necks and Congress is saying "so what"," PM Modi took a swipe at the CongressThousands of Sikhs were thrown out of their houses and killed and their properties were destroyed, but Congress says "so what", Modi said at a campaign in Rohtak."In Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and other states Sikhs were targeted under Congress. Every big and small leader of the ...