Page 616 - Politics
'Abusing a martyred PM is sign of ultimate cowardice': Ahmed Patel on Modi's attack on Rajiv Gandhi
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly targeting Rajiv Gandhi in his campaign speeches, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Thursday said abusing a martyred Prime Minister is the sign of "ultimate cowardice". Patel's counter attack came a day after Modi accused the Gandhi family of using warship INS Viraat as its "personal taxi" for a holiday when Rajiv Gandhi was at the helm. "Rajiv ji lost his life due to their hatred and is no longer here amongst us to answer the baseless allegations and abuses which are being unleashed on him. Abusing a martyred Prime Minister is the sign of ultimate cowardice.," Patel tweeted. "But who is responsible for his assassination? The BJP backed V P Singh govt refused to provide him with additional security and left him with one PSO despite credible intelligence inputs and repeated requests," he alleged. Congress leaders, including its president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have hit out at Modi for his barb at their ..
Woman detained for throwing slipper at Sidhu
A woman was detained for allegedly attempting to throw her footwear at Congress leader and Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu during a public meeting here.In a short video of the incident, the woman is seen telling police personnel that she threw the slipper because "Sidhu spoke against Modi".Navjot Singh Sidhu has been very critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has often slammed him publicly referring to him as "chowkidar chor hai", following the example of party president Rahul Gandhi.Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for wrongly attributing his "chowkidar chor hai" remark to the apex court and sought closure of the contempt proceedings against him.In April, a shoe was hurled at BJP's national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao while he was addressing a media briefing. He, however, had a narrow escape as the shoe did not hit him.At the time of the incident, the BJP spokesperson was talking about fielding Sadhvi ...
Modi, Priyanka Gandhi to address rallies in UP
As the general elections are inching to a close, political activity in Uttar Pradesh is touching crescendo.
Singapore passes fake news bill after days of debate
Singapore parliament has passed a comprehensive piece of legislation to combat fake news, after a marathon two-day debate, amid criticism from opponents and activists who consider it an attack on freedom of expression, the media reported on Thursday.
Will stop flow of river water to Pak if it continues supporting terrorism: Gadkari
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said India is mulling on the prospects of stopping the flow of river water to Pakistan in the backdrop of its "continuous support" to terrorism.Gadkari, while deterring to stop river water to Pakistan, said India is not bound to follow the Indus water treaty as peaceful relations no longer exist between the two countries."Water is going to Pakistan from three rivers; we do not want to stop that. But the basis of the water treaty between India and Pakistan was peaceful relations and friendship, both of which have completely vanished. So we are not bound to follow this treaty," Gadkari told media here on Wednesday.He went on to say that India is internally examining the matter."Pakistan is continuously supporting terrorists. If Pakistan does not stop terrorism, we won't have any other option but to stop river water to Pakistan. So India has started internally studying it. That water will go to Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan," said Gadkari.A week after ...
Maduro government too afraid to arrest me: Guaido
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has said that he remains a free man because the government of incumbent President Nicolas Maduro is "too afraid" of the consequences of arresting him.
Rajiv Gandhi died due to their hatred: Ahmed Patel hits out at BJP
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for "abusing" former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and said Gandhi died due to the "hatred" of BJP-backed VP Singh government in 1991.The statement comes in the backdrop of recent comments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the late prime minister."Abusing a martyred Prime Minister is the sign of ultimate cowardice. But who is responsible for his assassination? The BJP backed VP Singh government refused to provide him with additional security and left him with one PSO despite credible intelligence inputs and repeated requests," Patel tweeted.In another tweet, Patel said, "Rajiv ji lost his life due to their hatred and is no longer here amongst us to answer the baseless allegations and abuses which are being unleashed on him."While addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh on May 4, Prime Minister Modi had said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's father was termed 'Mr. Clean' by his courtiers, but his ...
Rajiv Gandhi's insult is price Rahul paid for insulting Veer Savarkar: Shiv Sena
In the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's verbal attack against late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Shiv Sena on Thursday opined that Gandhi's insult by the Prime Minister is the price Congress president Rahul Gandhi has to pay for "insulting" freedom fighter Veer Savarkar."Rahul Gandhi refers to Narendra Modi as 'chor' in public assemblies; does anyone expect the Prime Minister to invite him for a cup of tea for this? Even if we assume that what Prime Minister said about Rajiv Gandhi was wrong, the manner in which Rahul Gandhi has insulted great freedom fighter Veer Savarkar is worse," the party said in its editorial mouthpiece 'Saamana'."The manner in which he made fun of Savarkar and described how he freed himself by pleading to be British, it is an insult to all the freedom fighters and is simply unacceptable," it said.Recently, the Prime Minister had hit out at Rajiv Gandhi saying although he was termed 'Mr Clean' by his courtiers, his life ended as 'Bhrashtachari No 1'
LS polls: Less than 5% women candidates in Haryana
In the patriarchal state of Haryana, political parties are not fair with the fairer sex when it comes to the parliamentary elections. Only nine women were elected to Parliament so far.
NKorea says weapons drill was defensive, criticizes Seoul
North Korea on Thursday described its firing of rocket artillery and an apparent short-range ballistic missile over the weekend as a regular and defensive military exercise and ridiculed South Korea for criticizing the launches. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency published a statement by an unnamed military spokesman who called South Korea's criticism a "cock-and-bull story," hours before senior defense officials from South Korea, United States and Japan met in Seoul to discuss the North Korean launches and other security issues. A separate statement by a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman described the launches as a "routine and self-defensive military drill." South Korea's presidential Blue House and Defense Ministry have raised concern that Saturday's launches went against the spirit of an inter-Korean military agreement reached last year to cease all hostile activities and urged North Korea to refrain from acts that could escalate tensions. North Korean state ..
NDA bats in favourable conditions in Bihar's 6th phase
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will look to defend its turf in the 6th phase of polling in Bihar on May 12 as the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition had won all the eight seats going to the polls in this penultimate round of Lok Sabha elections.
House Judiciary Committee votes to hold Barr in contempt of Congress
The US House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress, fuelling a simmering dispute between the Democrats and Republicans over Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on alleged Russian collusion in 2016 presidential election.The committee voted along party lines, 24 to 16, and the Democrats moved a formal resolution that the House should hold Barr in contempt for failing to adhere with a subpoena on releasing Mueller's full and unredacted report on his Russia probe, The Hill reported.While House leaders backed the contempt resolution, it is not clear when it will advance to the floor of the House. After the vote, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said that the development would happen "rapidly" and "soon."Prior to the contempt vote, President Donald Trump had asserted executive privilege over Mueller's report and its underlying evidence.On Monday, while scheduling the vote, Nadler had said that he proposed to
India, Turkey agree to boost trade, investment ties
India and Turkey on Wednesday vowed to strengthen economic relations with an aim of reaching USD 10 billion bilateral trade by 2020.Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal, who is on a three-day visit to India since May 7, held talks with Gitesh A Sarma, Secretary (West) under the institutional mechanism of foreign office consultations."Deputy Foreign Minister Onal and Secretary (West) held cordial discussions on various aspects of bilateral ties including examining opportunities for enhancing trade and investment relations. Currently, the bilateral trade stands at around USD 8.6 billion with a target to reach USD 10 billion by 2020," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.Other aspects such as enhanced cultural interaction, tourism, people-to-people contacts were also discussed, it added.India and Turkey reviewed the current situation in their respective regions and also exchanged views on several multilateral issues."The visit of Deputy Foreign Minister Onal .
Venezuela detains top Guaido aide
Venezuelan intelligence agents arrested Wednesday the deputy leader of the opposition-dominated National Assembly, a move immediately denounced by its leader Juan Guaido. Edgar Zambrano, Guaido's deputy as National Assembly speaker, was detained by intelligence agents in Caracas for backing the failed April 30 uprising orchestrated by Guaido. "We warn the people of Venezuela and the international community: the regime has kidnapped the first vice-president" of the National Assembly, Guaido said in a Twitter message. "They are trying to destroy the power representing all Venezuelans, but they will not achieve it," Guaido said. Separately, Venezuela's Supreme Court indicted three more lawmakers for backing Guaido's uprising. The three -- named as Freddy Superlano, Sergio Vergara and Juan Andres Mejia -- are accused of high treason and conspiracy. It brings to 10 the number of opposition lawmakers indicted for supporting Guaido, following a court announcement indicting seven others on ...
Trump announces sanctions on Iran's metals sector
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Iran's iron, steel, aluminum and copper sectors amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Venezuela court indicts more lawmakers over uprising
Venezuela's Supreme Court announced the indictment of three more lawmakers on Wednesday for backing the failed April 30 uprising orchestrated by opposition leader Juan Guaido. The three -- named as Freddy Superlano, Sergio Vergara and Juan Andres Mejia -- are accused of high treason and conspiracy. It brings to 10 the number of opposition lawmakers indicted for supporting Guaido, following a court announcement indicting seven others on Tuesday. Soon after the announcement, the Constituent Assembly -- which effectively acts as a regime rubber stamp -- stripped the seven of their parliamentary immunity. The Constituent Assembly has said it would suspend the immunity of any lawmakers who backed the uprising, which set off two days of clashes between security forces and protesters. Attorney General Tarek William Saab says the clashes left six people dead. Dozens more were injured and more than 233 were arrested.
EC orders re-polling in one polling booth in Puducherry
The Election Commission of India (EC) has declared "void", polls held on April 18 at polling station no-10, Kamaraj Nagar assembly segment of the Puducherry Parliamentary constituency.In an order on Wednesday, EC stated that the re-polling will be held on May 12 between 7 am to 6 pm."After taking all material circumstances into account, the Election Commission hereby declares under Sub-Sections (2) of Section 58 of clause (b) under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 that the poll taken on April 18, 2019, at Polling Station No. 10 of 10-Kamraj Nagar Assembly Segment of Puducherry parliamentary constituency to be void," an order from the EC to the Returning Officer of Puducherry read.The ECI directed the Returning Officer to ensure that wide publicity is given in the polling areas. It also directed the official to inform political parties and contesting candidates about the fresh poll.Earlier on Tuesday, EC had declared 'void', polls held at 168 polling stations in Tripura West .
Amid Brexit deadlock, UK to participate in EU polls on May 23: May's de facto deputy
Amid a deadlock between ruling Conservative Party and opposition Labour Party over Brexit, the United Kingdom is expected to participate in the European Parliament elections slated to be held on May 23, Prime Minister Theresa May's de facto deputy David Lidington said on Wednesday.However, Lidington said that the Member of the European Parliament (MEPs) will not "take their places in Brussels," if the government and Opposition reach an agreement over May's Brexit deal or a cross-party plan, Xinhua News Agency reported.May has been making efforts to push her beleaguered agreement or an alternative withdrawal deal through the British Parliament in a bid to prevent the UK from participating in the EU elections.Negotiations between the Conservatives and Labour took place earlier in the day, but no joint agreement was reached. The talks will resume on Wednesday.The two parties have been in discussions for over a month to try to broker a Brexit deal that can secure majority support in ...
1 year after exiting from nuke deal, US says will continue its pressure campaign against Iran
On the first anniversary of the US' withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Washington on Wednesday said it will continue to "impose maximum pressure" against Tehran till the regime gives up its "destabilising ambitions" of expanding its nuclear programme."One year ago today, President Trump announced the United States would cease to participate in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and would instead embark on a bold new strategy to end Iran's destabilising behaviour and prevent Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon," the State Department said in a statement."President Trump promised that America would never be held hostage to the Iranian regime's nuclear blackmail and that we would aggressively seek to address the full range of Iran's destabilising activities," it added.Highlighting the steps taken by the Trump administration, the statement noted, "We have imposed the toughest sanctions ever on the Iranian regime, designating nearly 1,000 individuals and entities in the ..
Narendra Modi is "180 degree" Prime Minister: Akhilesh Yadav
Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a '180 degree Prime Minister', SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said that his words and actions are totally different."The Prime Minister is such a good Prime Minister that along with Prachar Mantri (advertisement minister), he is also 180 degree PM. He forgets whatever he says. He does just the opposite of his promises. He promised to give crores of jobs but demonetisation wreaked havoc," Yadav told reporters on Wednesday."He promised that demonetisation will wipe out Naxals and terrorism but these activities have increased. He can say anything," he said.When asked to comment on dynasty politics, the SP chief said: "BJP people are dynasts. They have taken two oaths-- one of the constitution and one of the RSS. They forget when to work under the constitution and when to work under RSS oath."Yadav who is contesting against BJP's Nirahua, a Bhojpuri star, in Azamgarh, reiterated his claim that Mahagathbandhan is going to form the new government and the new ..