Page 611 - Politics
Greenhorn Vijender sure of landing knockout punch (IANS Exclusive)
A boxer has to both receive and return punches to the person opposite him inside the ring, and ace pugilist Vijender Singh is facing similar challenges in his debut bout in the political arena.
Who is your PM candidate, Amit Shah asks 'gathbandhan' leaders
BJP chief Amit Shah Thursday asked the opposition parties who will be the prime minister if the 'gathbandhan' is voted to power, raising the issue of possible disagreement among them on their PM candidate. "On Monday, Mayawati will be prime minister. On Tuesday, it will be Sharad Pawar and someone else on Wednesday," Shah said at an election rally in Siddharthnagar. He claimed many of the opposition leaders are in politics only to "realise" their vested interests, hide corruption and for their families. He contrasted the situation in the Opposition camp with the BJP, saying his party has declared Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. "If voted to power, Narendra Modi will become prime minister. But I want to ask Rahul Baba, bua-bhatija (Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati), as to who will be the leader of your gathbandhan?," Shah said. Shah was addressing election rallies in Siddharthnagar and Balrampur during his day-long visit to Uttar Pradesh to woo voters for the remaining two
'Modi's remarks on Rajiv show BJP's campaign has hit dead end'
NCP general secretary and former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "derogatory and false" statements against Rajiv Gandhi showed that the BJP's campaign has reached a dead end and the PM was in a "panic mode". Vaghela also expressed confidence that the UPA will form the next government at the Centre. "The remarks made by Modi against former PM Rajiv Gandhi, who is no longer alive, are derogatory and false. The remarks are unbecoming of a PM...By attacking Rajiv Gandhi, Modi has proved that the BJP campaign has reached a dead end," he said on the sidelines of an event. The statement has lowered the dignity of the office of the prime minister, he said. "As five phases of polling are over, the BJP camp is nervous. PM Modi, who for the past five years was in flight mode, is in an electoral panic mode today," Vaghela said. At a rally in Uttar Pradesh last Saturday, Modi had targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying, ...
Number of service voters sees jump since Feb, max from defence ministry
The number of government employees, including defence personnel, registered as 'service voters' has seen a substantial increase since February this year and the maximum belong to the ministry of defence, EC data shows. As on May 6, when the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections concluded, nearly 18 lakh employees had enrolled as service voters. In February this year, the Election Commission (EC) had said that a total of 16,62,993 service personnel have been enrolled as Service Electors in the country in the electoral roll 2019. In 2014, the corresponding figure was 13,27,627. The Ministry of Defence led with 10,16,245 service voters, followed by the Ministry of Home Affairs with 7,82,595 and Ministry of External Affairs with 3,539, according to the latest data. The state police has a poor representation with 267 personnel registered as service voters. Personnel of the armed forces, central armed police forces and state police personnel deployed outside their constituencies are considered
Shatrughan reacts to Amit Shahs proposed roadshow in Patna
Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who quit BJP and joined the Congress, on Thursday lashed out at the saffron party over reports in a section of the media that party president Amit Shahs proposed roadshow here later this week would show him his aukaat (worth). Shah is scheduled to hold a roadshow here on Saturday evening. It is slated to commence from Kadam Kuan locality, where Sinhas ancestral house is situated and criss-cross several narrow streets in densely populated localities before concluding near the historic Gandhi Maidan, according to sources in the BJP. I have heard that Shah is coming to Patna. He is welcome as every guest is. He would be served tea and also pakodas which he and his ilk seem to be very fond of, Sinha, also called 'Shotgun', said in an obvious dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The prime minister while replying to complaints of job crisis, had said that selling fritters should also be seen as an employment. But I have learnt that ...
China reiterates countermeasures against US tariffs
China on Thursday said that it was prepared to defend its interests in the ongoing trade dispute with the US and reiterated its warning to retaliate if Washington went ahead with its plan to increase tariffs on Chinese products from 10 to 25 per cent.
Modi warns first time voters against 'khichdi' government
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed first time voters and said they must beware of 'khichdi' (read coalition) governments that bring anarchy and instability.
SP-BSP worked for castes, not society: Amit Shah
BJP President Amit Shah on Thursday attacked the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), saying that when these parties were in power they never worked for the society but only for select castes.
Atishi breaks down, AAP accuses Gambhir of distributing pamphlets with 'derogatory, casteist' remarks
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from East Delhi parliamentary constituency Atishi Marlena on Thursday broke down at a press conrference here accusing BJP candidate Gautam Gambhir of circulating pamphlets with derogatory and casteist remarks against her.Gambhir, who is contesting against Atishi in the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat. rubbished the allegation saying if it is proved he would quit from the election."They have shown how low they can stoop. Pamphlet states that 'she is a very good example of a mixed breed'," Atishi said at the press conference in which was accompanied by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.Sisodia accused the cricketer-turned-politician of distributing pamphlets in an attempt to defame Atishi."Language in this pamphlet, distributed in East Delhi, is so abusive and low that everybody will feel ashamed while reading it. This letter with derogatory remarks is distributed by Gautam Gambhir to make himself win. We never, in our worst dream, had thought that
EU calls on Iran to uphold nuclear commitments
The European Union (EU) on Thursday called on Iran to continue to comply with its commitments set out in a nuclear deal signed with other world powers and lamented US sanctions against Tehran.
Chouhan says his brother didn't get loan waiver, slams Rahul
Senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath of spreading lies over the loan waiver issue and deceiving farmers. The former chief minister hit out at Gandhi over his claim at a rally in MP on Wednesday that his brother was among those who received loan waiver. "This is a conspiracy. They said the agri loan of my brother Rohit Chouhan was waived. As per the state government's order, a farmer needs to submit an application for loan waiver. "After scrutiny, if the application is found eligible then the benefit would be extended," Chouhan said at a press conference here. Showing the panchayat's documents pertaining to farmers at his native village Jait (in Sehore district), Chouhan said the records showed his brother was not eligible for loan waiver scheme. "He is an income tax payer and it's written (in records) that my brother Rohit hasn't even filled the application for farm loan .
Gautam Gambhir denies Atishi's allegations
Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir on Thursday denied the allegations levelled against him by the AAP's East Delhi constituency candidate Atishi, saying he will withdraw his nomination if her accusations were proven true.
Venezuelan opposition leader's deputy arrested
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's deputy has been detained by the country's intelligence services in a dramatic operation in eastern Caracas.
Be wary of 'khichdi' govt: PM Modi to voters
Mounting a blistering attack on the opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the voters on Thursday not to vote for a "khichdi" (coalition) government. "Be wary of a 'khichdi' government," he told an election rally here. Stating that voting for the opposition alliance was fraught with danger, the prime minister said, "The 'mahagathbandhan' can only lead to anarchy and instability and make the country insecure." Azamgarh had become synonymous with terrorism, Modi said, adding that however, the scenario had changed since 2014, when the BJP-led government was formed at the Centre. "Earlier, all terror activities had links to Azamagarh. But what happened after 2014 is for all of you to see," he said. "How were bomb blasts brought under control in all the cities after 2014? How have terror activities been restricted only to Jammu and Kashmir now? It is because our government prioritised national interest. We entered Pakistan and attacked terrorists," he said amid an applause from the
Centre denies perjury allegation in Rafale case
This was contained in an affidavit filed by the government in the apex court on an application of perjury filed by petitioners against government officials in the Rafale review petition. allegations.In its affidavit, the government said the contentions of the petitioners--Yashwant Sinha and others--that officials made false statement and suppressed evidence while submitting information on decision-making process, offset and pricing of the Rafale deal pursuant to the orders passed by this court is completely "false, baseless and an attempt to intimidate government servants from performing their duty".A Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice KM Joseph had earlier asked the Centre to file affidavit on petitioners' perjury application.Petitioners had filed the perjury application after the December 14, 2018 judgement of the top court upholding the 36 Rafale jets' deal, seeking initiation of perjury proceedings against officials who allegedly made ...
Cong has lost credibility to address poverty: Gadkari
The Congress has lost all political credibility when it comes to addressing the issue of poverty, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday, taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi's proposed "Nyay" scheme by invoking Congress prime ministers, who, he claimed, had vowed to eradicate poverty and failed. Addressing a press conference at the BJP office here, Gadkari also alleged that the Congress had deliberately created "fear" in the minds of the minorities to divert attention from performance, work and development, which should have been the issues in the ongoing Lok Sabha election. "The Congress party has no credibility. After 1947, (then prime minister Jawaharlal) Nehru said he will remove poverty. Then Indira Gandhi said this. She used the slogan of removing poverty and won (elections), but poverty did not go. Then Rajiv Gandhi repeated that, then Sonia Gandhi and then Manmohan Singh, but poverty did not go. "Now, even Panditji's (Nehru) great-grandson is saying the same thing. If he ...
Intially Rajiv Gandhi was not corrupt but later got involved in Bofors: Satyapal
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Thursday said former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was initially not corrupt but under the influence of some people, he got involved in the Bofors corruption case. He was reacting to rebel BJP leader Ajay Agarawal releasing a 76-second audio clip in which Malik told the Supreme court lawyer that Gandhi was not corrupt. "Rajiv basically bhrast nahi tha aur yeh mujhe Arun Nehru ne bhi kaha ki AICC se jo kharcha milta tha un dinon, jab yeh ghumtey phirte thay, toh yeh ghair-zaruri kharcha bhi nahi leta tha. Arun Nehru ka yeh kehna tha (Rajiv was not corrupt. In those days when they received money from AICC for their travel, he never took anything unnecessary. This was told to me by Arun Nehru)," he is heard saying in the clip. The governor Thursday said, "Initially, he (Rajiv Gandhi) was not corrupt but later under the influence of some people, who I will not name, he got involved in the Bofors corruption case." Malik said he and PDP founder Mufti
Europe rejects Iran 'ultimatum' but stands by nuke deal
European powers on Thursday rejected "ultimatums" from Tehran but vowed to fight to save the Iran nuclear deal, as tensions with the US soar. Iran said it would defy some restrictions agreed under the 2015 accord and threatened to go further if Europe, China and Russia fail to deliver sanctions relief within 60 days. Tehran says it is responding to unilateral US sanctions imposed by Washington after President Donald Trump ripped up what he called a "horrible" deal, dealing a severe blow to the Iranian economy. Europe has stressed the importance of the deal -- in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions relief -- for its own security, and EU president Jean-Claude Juncker said it would be on the agenda at Thursday's summit in the Romanian town of Sibiu. EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini and France, Germany and Britain -- the three European signatories to the deal -- voiced "great concern" at President Hassan Rouhani's dramatic intervention. "We ...
BJP is 'Bahut Jhoot Party': Abhishek Manu Singhvi
Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Thursday dubbed BJP as the "Bahut Jhoot Party".
Final count of 1st vote since coup leaves Thailand divided
Thailand's Election Commission on Wednesday announced the final results of the March 24 general election the first since a military coup in 2014 that gave no party an absolute majority and likely will prompt legal challenges. The commission distributed 150 party list seats in the 500-member House of Representatives under a complicated formula related to each party's nationwide popular vote total. Twenty-six parties were granted seats, 14 of them one apiece, while one seat was held open pending a re-vote in one constituency where the winning candidate was disqualified. The commission's failure to clearly explain its formula had led to suspicions it might fiddle with the total. It has already been heavily criticized for releasing delayed and confusing preliminary vote totals, and was accused of tilting in favor of the military-backed Palang Pracharath party. Palang Pracharath was awarded 18 party list seats Wednesday, while the rival Pheu Thai party associated with fugitive former ...