Page 614 - Politics
Instructions to kill Sikhs in 1984 came from PMO: BJP
Continuing its attack on late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the BJP on Thursday claimed that the "instructions to kill" citizens during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots came from the Prime Minister's office (PMO).
Modi could not list single achievement: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not listing any achievement of his ministries and keeping mute at his public rally here on the sealing drive in Delhi.
SC dismisses plea opposing Tamil Nadu govt decision to release convicts in Rajiv assassination
The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea objecting to the Tamil Nadu Government's decision to release all the seven convicts involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.Dismissing the plea, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said: "We don't find any merit in your petition." The plea was filed by the families of those killed along with the former Prime Minister. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK)-led Tamil Nadu government in 2014 decided to release all the convicts.In May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. The attack also left 14 other people killed.
'Modi vs rest' in Phulpur, once Nehru's constituency
Best known as the parliamentary constituency of Jawaharlal Nehru, Phulpur is witnessing a 'Modi versus the rest' battle this time. The constituency was in the news last year, when the joint opposition candidate created a major electoral upset by defeating the BJP nominee on the seat, which was associated with UP's Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. This time there are 14 candidates in the fray. The assembly segments which constitute the Phulpur parliamentary constituency are Phulpur, Phaphamau, Soraon (SC), Allahabad West and Allahabad North. There are 19.75 lakh voters in the constituency. Local residents of the constituency see the poll battle as Modi versus the rest, and with every passing day, the excitement among voters is only growing. Ashit Neogy, who runs a shop in Allahabad (North) said, "The hangover of highly successful 2019 Kumbh among residents of Allahabad and Phulpur is yet to disappear. A high volume of developmental works were done in the run-up to the ..
Modi a serial liar: Congress on PM's INS Viraat allegation
The Congress on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for alleging that the late Rajiv Gandhi used INS Viraat as "personal taxi" on a family vacation, saying he is a "serial liar" who does not have the courage to fight elections on issues such as unemployment and demonetisation. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said retired Indian Navy Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha has clarified that the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was on an official visit on INS Viraat and not on a vacation. "But facts don't matter to Modi. He doesn't have anything to talk about his own achievements. Rahul Gandhi has been challenging him for last six months now to debate on Rafale deal, demonetisation, unemployment, but Modi does not have the courage to speak," he said at a press conference. Taking a swipe at Modi for making allegations against Rajiv Gandhi who is no more, Khera said has any one read about former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru saying that his next election will be against Mughal ...
Trinamool's stranglehold vs BJP's rise in Bengal's Jhargram
Jhargram, West Bengal's tribal heartland and once a hotbed of Maoism, is set to witness a battle between the dominating presence of the ruling Trinamool Congress and the rising BJP in the Lok Sabha elections with the Communists trying to hold on to what little remains of their former sway over the region.
Malaysian PM says no timetable for handing over power
A year after his election victory, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has defended his government's record but gave no timetable for handing over power to his successor Anwar Ibrahim. Mahathir says there were hiccups in pushing through some reforms because of insufficient support in Parliament for the required constitutional changes. The 93-year-old Mahathir has said he needed two years to fix the country's problems after ousting a scandal-plagued government. Uncertainties over the timing of the handover rattled some investors who fear it could disrupt the economy. Mahathir told foreign journalists Thursday that he is an "interim prime minister" but there was no fixed period for him to leave. He says the transition will be smooth as any changes by Anwar will "not be radical.
SC dismisses ex-BSF constable Tej Bahadur's plea against rejection of nomination from Varanasi
The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea of former BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav challenging the rejection of his nomination by the Election Commission from Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency.A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, "We don't find any merit to entertain this petition."On May 1, Yadav's candidature was rejected by the returning officer after he failed to submit a certificate on whether or not he was dismissed from the service for corruption or disloyalty to the government.Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Yadav, said his client was being harassed for complaining about food when he was in the Border Security Force (BSF).Samajwadi Party had fielded Yadav as its candidate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi on April 29. Prior to that, he was in the fray as an independent candidate.Prime Minister Modi was elected from Varanasi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, defeating AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal by a margin of over 3.37 lakh votes.Varanasi .
Mamata proudly accepts Pakistan PM, not India's: Modi
Taking a dig at Mamata Banerjee for saying that she doesn't accept him as the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on Thursday said the West Bengal Chief Minister rather feels proud to accept Pakistan's Prime Minister and accused her of insulting the Constitution.
Mamata insulting the Constitution by not accepting me as PM:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is insulting the Constitution by saying that she is not ready to accept him as the prime minister of the country. Addressing an election rally at Bankura, Modi said "Didi (Banerjee) is publicly saying that she is not ready to accept the country's PM as the head of the nation, but she feels proud in acknowleding Pakistan PM as that country's prime minister." He said that out of anxiety of losing the general elections, the chief minister is insulting the Constitution. The PM said that Banerjee had not received telephone calls when he tried to contact her in the aftermath of cyclone Fani. "She did not take calls from me during the cyclone. The central government wanted to sit with officers of the state to discuss the situation, but didi did not allow that too," Modi said. Banerjee had said in a rally on May 6 that she does not accept Narendra Modi as the prime minister of the country
Malaysia's Mahathir says no timetable for handing over power
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad defended his government's record on the anniversary of its election victory Thursday and reiterated he will hand over power to his successor Anwar Ibrahim though he wasn't clear on when. Mahathir's four-party alliance ousted the coalition that has been in power since independence in 1957 amid anger over then-leader Najib Razak's massive financial scandal and the rising cost of living. But euphoria over the victory has faded and the new government has been accused of backsliding on reform promises in its election manifesto. Mahathir told foreign journalists there had been hiccups in pushing through some reforms due to insufficient support in parliament for constitutional changes. "The manifesto is for five years, not for one year, so we are working on that... there are some promises that have been delayed because of legal problems. For example, certain changes we want to make require some changes in the constitution. For that we need a ...
China broke the deal in trade talks: Trump
US President Donald Trump has said that China "broke the deal" in trade talks, ramping up hostilities ahead of negotiations between the two sides to end a tit-for-tat trade war.
Some House members considering taking a pay raise this year
A handful of senior House lawmakers, frustrated by a decade of frozen congressional salaries, are quietly exploring whether to accept an annual pay raise that they've shunned since Barack Obama was first president. It's a longshot at best, requiring comity that's in short supply in a Capitol riven with partisanship. More than two-thirds of House members have never gotten a pay raise as Congress has voted each year since 2009 to reject an annual cost-of-living adjustment that's due them under a 30-year-old reform measure. The optics for Democrats of restoring the COLA after GOP leaders killed it each year for eight years running are difficult. And President Donald Trump, feuding with Democratic lawmakers, could crush any effort to revive the pay raise by attacking Congress with a single tweet. Still, housing costs in the Washington area are skyrocketing most lawmakers maintain two homes and the annual salary of $174,000 doesn't go so far in the face of 10 years of inflation, not to .
People must rise above Jat-non Jat politics, vote in national interest: Centenarian
In a nondescript Haryana village, miles away from the buzzing streets of district headquarter Rohtak, a centenarian laments the election process over the overs has become a tool to grab power in disguise of democracy. Holding his voter-ID card to his chest, sitting on a jute cot spread in the open, Duli Chand is disappointed with the division in society, which, he warns, is a dangerous precedent for the future generation to fall back on. People should rise above Jat and non-Jat politics and vote in national interest, he says. "All this is being done by Manohar Lal Khattar's BJP government. But the result will be very unfortunate." Harking onto his experience, he said former Haryana chief minister Chaudhary Devi Lal had once adopted this "divide and rule policy" and it took decades to bring Jat and non-Jats together. "Both are inseparable from the Haryanvi culture. BJP is trying to repeat history but voters should sense this conspiracy and vote in national interest," he told ...
Anti-Kurdish protests in east Syria could endanger US plans
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces took credit for defeating the Islamic State group in its last stronghold in eastern Syria, celebrating the victory in front of throngs of journalists at a ceremony in March following a bloody four-year war. But the Kurdish-led force now faces protests by local Arab tribesmen demanding better services, jobs and a bigger role in decision-making in the predominantly Arab, oil-rich and fertile region. Demonstrations in more than a dozen villages in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour are limited for now, but they present a growing challenge to the U.S. and its local partners at a time when President Donald Trump plans to reduce America's military presence in Syria. An SDF official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the protesters are a small percentage of Deir el-Zour residents. But the demonstration benefit the Syrian government, its Iranian backers and Turkey, and undermine "our victory ..
Your slap is blessing for me, I accept it: PM Modi to Mamata
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hit back at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said that her "slap" will be a blessing for him."I have been told that here Didi has said that she wants to slap Modi. Mamata Didi I call you 'Didi', respect you. Your slap will become a blessing for me. I am ready to take that)," Prime Minister Modi said while addressing a rally here."But I will also say that you won't feel scared if you would have dared to slap those who, in the name of chit fund, looted the money of poor people," he added.Mamata Banerjee had on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Modi of lying and said when he attacked her party of being a "tolabaaz" (toll collector), she wanted to give him a "tight slap of democracy."Speaking at the rally on Thursday, Modi gave an assurance that the "infiltrators that 'Didi' and TMC have made their cadres will be identified. Those who trouble our daughters and the cultured Bengalis here, they will be identified.""Not enough days are ...
PMO directly gave instructions to kill Sikhs in 1984: H S Phoolka
Senior advocate H S Phoolka on Thursday claimed that instructions to "kill" during the anti-Sikh riots that took place in Delhi in 1984 had come directly from the Prime Minister's Office."There is enough evidence on record to show that in 1984 when the Sikhs were being killed, the instructions were coming directly from the Prime Minister's Office and the Army was not called in... We have placed our evidence on record before the Nanavati Commission as well as Mishra Commission," Phoolka told ANI here."Shanti Bhushan was Law Minister during Morarji Desai government. Shanti Bhushanji has given his own affidavit before the Nanavati Commission. He says on November 1 morning he went to Narasimha Rao, who was Union Home Minister at that time and he asked Narasimha Rao to immediately call the Army as innocent citizens are being killed... Narasimha Rao agreed with him," Phoolka explained."Narasimha Rao called on the RAX phone, which is a direct phone between the ministers. And he says ...
Will be difficult to spot Pakistan with on map if they continue to support terror: Giriraj Singh
BJP's Giriraj Singh has forecast a time when it will be difficult to find Pakistan on the map if the country continues to support terror activities. Issuing a threat of wiping out the country if it aids terrorism, the union minister said India will not stop at air strikes and water strikes, a reference to Nitin Gadkari's remarks about stopping water to Pakistan."If Pakistan doesn't stop terrorism, then there will not just be airstrikes, similar to what happened in Balakot, there will not just be water strikes, but it will be difficult to find Pakistan on the map one day," the BJP leader said.Singh, who has often made references to Pakistan in his statements, said the country stands exposed after India's Balakot strikes."Pakistan has been exposed on Balakot air strikes. The world accepts that India was able to eliminate Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists there," he said.Backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest jibe at the Gandhi family, Singh said the Congress should have courage to hear
Rajiv Gandhi used INS Viraat for official visit: Congress
The Congress on Thursday said late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi did not use aircraft carrier INS Viraat for vacation but for an official purpose.
Rain may play spoilsport for Friday rallies of Modi, Rahul in Himachal Pradesh
Rain may mar proposed rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Himachal Pradesh on Friday. The Meteorological Department here has issued a fresh yellow weather warning for May 10 and 11, predicting thunderstorm accompanied by hailstorm and gusty winds in the plains, lower and middle hills. Modi and Rahul are scheduled to address rallies in Mandi and Una, respectively, on May 10. The MeT office issues colour-coded warnings to alert the public ahead of severe or hazardous weather, which has the potential to cause damage, danger or widespread disruption to life. Yellow is the least dangerous of the weather warnings. It indicates the possibility of severe weather over the next few days that could hit the normal life. Modi is scheduled to address his maiden election rally in the state in support of sitting BJP MP Ramswaroop Sharma, who is pitted against former union telecom minister Sukh Ram's grandson Aashray Sharma. The Mandi Lok Sabha seat is one of