Page 630 - Politics
Not an English gentleman: Goa Dy CM after viral video
A day after a video in which a visibly irritated Goa Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai knocked a mobile phone from a government officer's hand went viral, the politician said on Tuesday that he is an "aggressive person" by nature and not quite an "English gentleman".
Opposition asks EC to increase auto check of VVPAT
A delegation of opposition parties on Tuesday visited the Election Commission (EC) and urged it to look into their demand for 50 per cent auto check of VVPAT.
Rahul Gandhi holds road show in Dhanbad
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday held a road show in the coal town of Dhanbad in Jharkhand in support of party candidate Kirti Azad. This was the first time a national president of any political party held a road show in Dhanbad. Braving the scorching summer heat, thousands of people, including women, stood on both sides of the 1.5 km stretch between Matkuriya check post to Bank More Birsa Munda Chowk from 3 pm for a glimpse of the Congress leader. Though the road show programme was scheduled from 3.50 pm Gandhi arrived an hour late for the much-awaited programme. He rode an open vehicle and waived at the people, who greeted him with slogans. Gandhi was accompanied Azad and Jharkhand state Congress Committee president Ajoy Kumar. He, however, could not address the public at Birsa Chowk as scheduled due to paucity of time. Azad is contesting from Dhanbad on a Congress ticket as per the seat sharing arrangement among the Mahagathbandhan (opposition) allies. He was a .
Maha: 224 cops, 246 Naxals, 571 civilians killed since 1980
Naxals have killed 224 security forces' personnel in Maharashtra since 1980, a senior state government official said Tuesday. The latest incident was on May 1 when 15 Quick Response Team personnel and their driver were killed in Jambhurkheda in the district's Kurkheda tehsil after their vehicle was blown up with an improvised explosive device (IED). Apart from security forces, Naxals have also killed 571 civilians since 1980 while the Maoist ultras have seen 246 cadre gunned down in the same period, he said. "Calendar year 2018 was special as the police did not lose a single personnel while they managed to gun down 50 Naxals," he said. "It is to be noted that of the 246 Naxals killed so far, 98 have been shot dead after 2014. The police force lost 19 personnel since 2014," he said. Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and Gondia have been declared Naxal-affected districts in Maharashtra by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Government posts key ministerial staff ahead of election results
Weeks before the results of general election are known, the central government has shifted many Ministerial staff back to regular departmental postings.
South India got step-motherly treatment, will play key role in voting out Modi: Tharoor
Alleging that south India received "step motherly" treatment under the Modi government, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said the south will play a key role in voting out the ruling dispensation and "overwhelmingly" side with the Congress. Emphasising that all sections of the country are equally important to the Congress and have been equally sought after, he said party president Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Kerala's Wayanad sent a message that under Congress rule, the concerns and aspirations of southern states will not be ignored at the Centre. "I think the south will definitely play an instrumental role in deciding the political fate of the country, particularly in the context of voting out the present ruling dispensation, under whose tenure, the south has an understandable case of step-motherly treatment under the Centre," Tharoor told PTI in an interview. He alleged that in the last five years of BJP rule, there has been a "widespread assault" on the spirit of ...
Writ of extortion syndicates run in every sphere of life in
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday alleged that the writ of extortion syndicates having allegiance to the ruling Trinamool Congress run in every sphere of life in West Bengal and asserted that the BJP can only usher in a better life for its people. She said that the syndicates in West Bengal have gone to such extent that they tried to "extort money" from the family of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, from someone who is an MP of Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. Sitharaman said that members of a syndicate had demanded money from Jadavpur MP Sugata Bose when he was repairing his ancestral home in Bhowanipore area in south Kolkata, where Netaji had lived. "Seeing such situation, Sugata Bose decided to give up politics here and to go back to USA," she said. While announcing the name of Bengali film actress Mimi as TMC candidate from Jadavpur, the TMC supremo had said that Bose did not get permission to contest from Harvard University where he teaches. Sitharaman claimed ...
EU's Juncker laments not 'interfering' in Brexit campaign
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said Tuesday he regrets not intervening in the Brexit referendum, insisting the EU could have "destroyed the lies" that led to Britain voting to leave. Juncker, who will step down in the autumn after completing his five-year term, said he made a mistake by listening to British leader David Cameron when he told him to stay out of the campaign before the June 2016 vote. "The then prime minister asked me not to interfere, not to intervene in the referendum campaign. It was a mistake not to intervene and not to interfere, because we would have been the only ones to destroy the lies that were circulated round," Juncker said. "I was wrong to be silent at an important moment." The former Luxembourg prime minister said it was one of two "major mistakes" he made during his mandate -- the other being his slow response to the LuxLeaks financial scandal at the start of his term. Britain's bombshell vote -- by 52 per cent to 48 -- to leave the EU sent .
Dynastic rule of Nehru-Gandhi family hampered India's progress: Khattar
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar Tuesday said the dynasty politics of the Nehru-Gandhi family, which the country witnessed after independence, has hampered its progress. Addressing a poll rally at Surajpur here, which is part of Ambala Lok Sabha constituency from where sitting MP Rattan Lal Kataria is the BJP candidate, Khattar slammed opposition INLD and the JJP accusing them of only considering their own well being. "Japan and India gained independence around the same time but the dynasts derailed India's progress. The Nehru-Gandhi family due to its dynastic rule derailed the progress of the country," Khattar said. "The dynastic rule of this family did not allow any deserving person to come forward," he said, citing it as the main reason why India lags behind Japan. Besides the Congress, the chief minister attacked the Indian National Lok Dal and the Jannayak Janata Party. "They filled their homes and worked for the welfare of their relatives," he said, adding that only ..
What has Congress done to eradicate poverty: Gadkari
Taking a swipe at the proposed Nyay scheme of the Congress, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Tuesday asked what the party has done to eradicate poverty in its 55-60 years rule. He appealed to the people to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hands and bring him back to power to continue the developmental works. "The Congress ruled the country for 55-60 years with Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh as prime ministers. What did they do to eradicate poverty? Now Rahul Gandhi speaking about giving (the poor) Rs 6,000 per month," the Union Road Transport and Water Resources Minister said while addressing an election rally here. Gadkari said road work in 1.7 crore villages had been completed and "In Jharkhand alone roads worth Rs 17 lakh crore were constructed and there will be no potholes in the next 200 years." Urging the people to vote for BJP's Dhanbad Lok Sabha constituency P N Singh to strengthen the hands of Modi, the Union minister said
Pompeo cancels visit to Germany over 'pressing issues'
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday abruptly cancelled a scheduled trip to Germany "due to pressing issues," his department said on Tuesday.
Sukhbir Badal, Harsimrat corrupt, power-hungry couple: Amarinder
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Tuesday held rallies in the Akali strongholds of Ferozepur and Bathinda, and termed SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and his wife Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal "corrupt and power-hungry couple". The Congress leader asked people to defeat such leaders who "used" Punjab for promoting their "vested interests" and not for the state's welfare. Sukhbir Singh Badal is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Ferozepur seat while his wife has been fielded from Bathinda. Accompanied by his cabinet colleague Manpreet Badal, and senior Congress leader and Rajasthan minister Harish Choudhary, Amarinder Singh said in Bhuchho, "The corrupt and power-hungry couple needs to be taught a lesson in these elections for their attempts to divide the state on communal lines." Canvassing for SAD rebel and Congress candidate from Ferozepur Shamsher Singh Ghubaya and party nominee in Bathinda Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the chief minister alleged that the Badal couple ..
Cong rubbishes reports of preparing for assembly polls after
Rubbishing reports that Congress in Karnataka was preparing for assembly polls after the Lok Sabha election results, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara Tuesday said that the coalition government would complete its five year term. The senior Congress leader also termed as 'impertinent' at this point of time, statements by some party leaders pitching for Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister once again and said there is a system in place in the party to choose the candidate. "Some unwanted people are spreading news about going for the polls. No one is ready to go for elections. We have formed an alliance with an intention to run the government for five years and will complete the full term," Parameshwara told reporters in Kalburgi. The Congress was currently working out a strategy to win the May 19 by-polls for Chincholi and Kundgol assembly constituencies, he said, adding that the party and alliance partner JD(S) would win maximum number of ...
Oppn raising doubts on EVMs as they know their fate: BJP
The BJP Tuesday likened the opposition's stand over the functioning of electronic voting machines (EVM) to an army's surrender during battle, saying it is looking for a scapegoat for its likely defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's swipe at the opposition came after the Supreme Court rejected the plea of 21 opposition leaders to review its earlier order and that VVPAT slips should be matched with at least 25 per cent of EVMs. Some opposition leaders, who have cast doubts over the use of EVM, said they will continue with their fight. "The EVM gang has surrendered as they know their fate. They are looking to blame EVMs for their loss when votes are counted on May 23," Naqvi told reporters outside the Election Commission (EC) here. The opposition's stand is like an army which has surrendered during a war, he said. A BJP delegation, which included its general secretary Bhupendra Yadav besides Naqvi, also submitted a memorandum to the EC. The BJP has ...
'US may take final decision on GSP issue after formation of new govt'
The US has indicated that it may take final decision on withdrawal of incentives to Indian exporters under its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme only after formation of the new government here, sources said. In March, the US Trade Representative's Office has said that removing India from the GSP programme would not take effect for at least 60 days after notifications to Congress and the Indian government, and it will be enacted by a presidential proclamation. The sources said in a meeting, the US has signalled that they would like to wait on the GSP issue till the new government assumes office in India. Although India has stated that withdrawal of these duty benefits under GSP will not impact its exports to the US, small exporters have asked for continuation of the programme. A group of 25 influential American lawmakers has urged the US Trade Representative not to terminate the GSP programme with India after the expiry of the 60-day notice, saying the country's ...
HP Guv uses postal ballot option to save expenses on security, time
Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat and wife Darshana Devi opted for postal ballot option to cast their votes to save time and government expenses on security arrangements, an official spokesperson said. Enrolled in the voter list of Haryana's Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat, where the election is on May 12, the governor and his wife sent their ballots by post to the constituency's returning officer, he said. He added that the postal ballots were certified by the Raj Bhawan secretary. The governor said the decision to opt for postal ballot was to avoid unnecessary expenditure on security and personal staff and to save time on travelling. He said this will also reduce the burden on the local polling booth as he is a 'Z' category protectee. Voting for all 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held on May 12.
Will 'weaponise' youth if domicile provisions diluted: Goa Deputy CM
Goa Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday said that his party will "weaponise" its youth to pressurize the BJP-led coalition government into rethinking on dilution of the provision of domicile for non administrative government jobs in the state.
Amarinder slams Modi over his remarks against Rajiv Gandhi
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks on his predecessor, the late Rajiv Gandhi.
People vote for performance, says Punjab CM's wife (Interview)
Only the Congress can alleviate the woes of the people and put India back on the track of development, as the party did in Punjab, said Congress candidate and three-time Member of Parliament Preneet Kaur, who is in the fray for the fifth time from the Patiala Lok Sabha seat, where the fort of her husband and now Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's erstwhile kingdom is located.
Modi's nationalism is 'fake': Kejriwal at poll rally in Haryana
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that his nationalism was fake. Speaking at a poll rally in favour of his ally Jannayak Janata Party's Dushyant Chautala here, Kejriwal projected JJP-AAP as a viable alternative. Hitting out at the prime minister, Kejriwal said Modi was seeking votes from people for the Balakot air strikes carried out in February. "Modi has not done any work in these years. He has nothing to show for development. Modi is saying only one thing that they killed terrorists by carrying out air strikes," he alleged. "A few days ago, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan gave a statement saying he wants Modi to continue as India's Prime Minister. Imran Khan is seeking votes for him. There has never been an example of a Pakistani prime minister batting for our PM in the last 70 years," the AAP supremo said. Continuing his tirade against the prime minister, he said everyone ..