Page 633 - Politics
Iran: US military deployment in Middle East 'bluff'
Iran's Supreme National Security Council has described the US military deployment in the Middle East as "psychological warfare" by Washington against Tehran.
Kerala CM comes out in support of Chief Electoral Officer
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Tuesday came out in support of Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena, who has been under fire from the CPI(M) for his report on bogus voting, and said the CEO was functioning within his legal framework. Vijayan, in a press meet, said there are mechanisms in a democracy to counter the malpractices like bogus voting. "Our democratic system is very secure. If there is any wrongdoing, there are mechanisms in our democracy to initiate action against such incidents," he said. The CEO had on April 29 said that three women, including a panchayat member, had cast bogus votes in Kasargod constituency. Rejecting the charge, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had criticised the CEO and alleged that Meena was acting in accordance with UDF's ploy. "The Chief Electoral Officer has to take a stand as per his post and authority. Why should we be worried about his actions? The political parties might have various opinions on various ...
Prime Minister lowered dignity of India: Congress
The Congress party on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "ridiculing" armed forces, "using" them for electoral gains and making "cheap" political comments that has "lowered" the dignity of his office as well as the country.
Congress to safeguard forest, land & water of tribals: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said his party will safeguard the forests, land and water of the tribals, if voted to power. He said the standard of living of the poor would also be improved through the 'NYAY' scheme, the party's proposed minimum income guarantee programme. "We will protect the jal, jungle, zameen (water, forest and land) of tribals," the Congress leader said at an election rally here. Asserting that the 'NYAY' scheme will act as a "surgical strike" in eradicating poverty from the country, Gandhi said, "A sum of Rs 72,000 per annum will be deposited in the bank accounts of the tribals, the poor, farmers, small traders." The NYAY scheme will increase the purchasing power, resulting in growth of trade and provide employment opportunities," Gandhi said. Accusing the Narendra Modi government of giving Rs 5.55 lakh crore to 15 industrialists, he said the NYAY scheme will require much less funds but change the lives of the poor. He said the Congress
Political families scions locked in Hisar battle play family, development card to woo voters
In one of the most interesting dynastic contests in the country, the legacy of three political families is set to be tested against each other and only one of them will outlive the other two on May 12, when election will be held in Hisar Lok Sabha constituency. The three scions, all of them educated in institutions abroad, and their family members are campaigning intensely in the hinterland as temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius. BJP has fielded 46-year-old bureaucrat-turned-politician Brijendra Singh, son of Union minister Birender Singh and great grandson of the peasant leader Sir Chhotu Ram. Congress has nominated Bhavya Bishnoi, 26. His father Kuldeep Bishnoi is sitting Congress MLA from Adampur and his mother, Renuka, is sitting Congress legislator from Hansi assembly seat. They represent the political dynasty of the late former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal. The new Jannayak Janata Party has named Dushyant Chautala, 31, as its candidate. Dushyant is the great ...
Lavrov, Pompeo to meet on May 14 in Russia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet on May 14 in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, the country's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
Will continue to fight for transparency in election process: Chandrababu Naidu after setback in SC
After the Supreme Court junked some opposition parties' review plea for 50 per cent VVPAT verification in the Lok Sabha polls, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Tuesday said he would not give up the fight for transparency in the election process. Twenty-one opposition leaders, including Naidu, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, CPI leader D Raja and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, had filed a plea seeking review of the apex court's April 8 order directing the Election Commission to increase random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs to five polling booths per assembly segment. The opposition parties had demanded that the number be raised to 50 per cent of total booths. "We respect the Supreme Court's order...but the party will not give up and continue its fight for transparency in the election process in the country. It's absolutely critical for the EC to work transparently to ensure free and fair elections," Naidu said in a statement. The Election ...
Before speaking on Rafale, give answers on AgustaWestland deal: Nirmala Sitharaman
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi and said that the latter before speaking on the issue of Rafale, should come clear on AgustaWestland deal scam which took place under UPA's tenure.Speaking to the media persons here, she launched a scathing attack on the opposition party and said: "The Supreme Court has given its verdict on Rafale deal. Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has also given its report on it, but if you are still talking about it, I think it is on the Congress party, first of all, to give answers on AgustaWestland and also on Backops Limited. Before questioning the Prime Minister or the Defence Ministry, they themselves have a lot to answer to."The company in question, Backops Services Private Limited, was opened in India, with siblings Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi as directors in 2002. In 2003, a firm called Backops Limited was incorporated in the United Kingdom by Rahul Gandhi and one Ulrik ...
BJP getting access to official documents in Tripura: Congress
A senior Congress leader in Tripura on Tuesday said the party has has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that the BJP is getting access to government documents and has demanded an inquiry into it. A BJP delegation had met the Chief Election Commissioner on May 2 and submitted a memorandum demanding the removal of Tripura Chief Electoral Officer. Tripura Congress vice president Tapas Dey said that " ... documents attached in the BJP memorandum to the CEC include a letter of the Returning Officer addressed to the chief secretary of Tripura, a representation by Tripura Civil Service Association and the chief secretary's letter to the ECI". Dey said the BJP was 'not supposed' to have access to such government documents and alleged they were given to the saffron party in an "unauthorized manner" and demanded an inquiry into it. Dey said he has lodged a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner on Monday about the BJP getting access to official ...
BJP's jumla won't work; it will lose power in LS elections: Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Tuesday said that people of the country will not fall to BJP's "fake" promises and "drama" and the party is bound to lose these elections owing to its capitalistic, communal and RSS-influenced policies."Bharatiya Janata Party will be voted out of power in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections due to its communal, casteist, capitalistic, and RSS-influenced policies. No jumblebaji (fake promises) or drama will do any good to them (BJP leaders)," she said at a joint SP-BSP-RLD rally here.Mayawati accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making false promises to the people of the country especially to the poor, Dalits, and deprived in the last general elections and not fulfilling them during the last five years of his government.she said, "Narendra Modi did not deliver even one-fourth of the promises he made to the poor and working class of the society in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP will lose power due to its drawbacks and failures in delivering its ..
Badal 'bahu' Harsimrat faces third electoral fight in Bathinda bastion
In the pocket borough of the Badal family here, their 'bahu' and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal is facing an electoral challenge from two sitting MLAs and an AAP rebel as she seeks to retain the Bathinda parliamentary constituency for the third time. Traditionally, Bathinda seat, which is also known as Punjab's cotton belt, has been considered as the stronghold of the Akali Dal as its candidates have won from here on eight occasions. The Shiromani Akali Dal has reposed confidence in Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the daughter-in-law of Akali stalwart Parkash Singh Badal, from Bathinda despite earlier speculations that she could be fielded from Ferozepur seat. The SAD patron and five-time chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has been campaigning for his daughter-in-law. The ruling Congress has given ticket to sitting MLA from Gidderbaha Amrinder Singh Raja Warring while the Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Talwandi Sabo legislator Baljinder Kaur. Rebel AAP leader and Punjabi Ekta Party chief ...
Teach abuses in your maternal country: Yogi to Priyanka
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday accused Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East), of teaching abuses to the youth of Amethi.
BJP warns of protests over Karna govt's "apathy" towards
The BJP in Karnataka took potshots at the Congress-JDS coalition government dubbing it as "dead" over its "apathy" towards drought relief measures and warned of state-wide agitations if no action was taken in two to three days. Alleging that those in the government were immersed in dealing with coalition worries and infighting, the saffron party leaders also hit out at Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy over his temple visits, and not sparing time for drought management. ".. none of the officials or Ministers are paying heed. It looks like there is no one to question them," state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa told reporters here. Pointing out that over 170 taluks in the state were facing drought and there was shortage of drinking water, also fodder for cattle at several places, he said, neither officials nor Ministers are visiting the affected areas, while the Chief Minister doesn't have time. "... if no action is taken in two to three days it will be inevitable for us (BJP) to
Meeting with Telangana CM "a significant one":Pinarayi Vijayan
: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Tuesday termed his meeting with his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao as a 'significant one' and said regional parties in the country would play a major role in forming the government after the Lok Sabha elections. The two leaders had yesterday held atwo-hour long closed door meeting, which comes with two more rounds to go in the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Telangana Rashtra Smiti (TRS) supremo Rao, who floated the idea of a non-Congress, non-BJP Front some time ago, met Vijayan at his official residence yesterday and discussed the current political scenario of the country. "It was an important meeting. We discussed the national political scenario. According to his opinion, both the Fronts may not get a majority in the polls. Hence, regional parties will play a major role," Vijayan told mediapersons here. He said the regional parties' stand was to protect the rights of the states. "In our country, states are being ...
BJP needs to learn lesson from fate of 'arrogant' Duryodhana: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
The BJP needs to learn from the fate of Duryodhana of Mahabharata that this country has never forgiven the arrogant, said Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra here on Tuesday."BJP doesn't raise practical issues. It tries to take benefit of soldiers' bravery. It attacks the martyrs from my family who died for the country. This country has never forgiven the arrogant. In Mahabharata, we know how Duryodhana even tried to capture Lord Krishna, who had only correct things to say. BJP should learn from this instance and never forget the fact that people have the highest power in a democracy," she said.Priyanka, who was addressing an election rally in support of former Union Minister and Congress candidate Kumari Selja, said that job creation for youths, farmers' progress and safety of women were among the key challenges India is facing today."The biggest challenge the country is facing today is the creation of jobs for the youths, development of farmers, safety and security of ..
Stalin-KCR meeting on May 13 uncertain
Uncertainty prevails on the proposed meeting between Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and DMK President M.K. Stalin on May 13 as the latter is yet to confirm the former's request, say DMK officials.
Pompeo, Lavrov to meet in Russia next week: Moscow
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to visit Russia for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov next week, Moscow said Tuesday, a day after the two met in Finland. The meeting will take place in the southern Russian city of Sochi on May 14, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed to AFP. The Kremlin said it was not ruling out a meeting between Pompeo and President Vladimir Putin, but spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not offer any further details. Pompeo's visit follows talks on Monday between Lavrov and the Secretary of State on the sidelines of an Arctic Council meeting in northern Finland. Pompeo at the weekend slammed Russia for "aggressive behaviour" in the Arctic and also said that "Russians must get out" of crisis-wracked Venezuela. Lavrov, speaking after Monday's talks, refused to comment on "political statements that are made publicly to create a certain effect." "We concentrated on real business," he said, calling the discussion "very good and
Andhra CM-CS showdown likely over cabinet meet
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who has called a cabinet meeting on May 10, appears to be heading for showdown with Chief Secretary L.V. Subramanyam as the latter on Tuesday held series of meetings with key officials.
Priyanka attacks Modi, says Duryodhana too had such arrogance
In a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Tuesday said the Mahabharata character Duryodhana too had such arrogance. Addressing a public meeting here, she also criticised Modi for calling her late father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi Bhrashtachari Number 1 (the most corrupt). She dared Modi to fight the Lok Sabha elections on issues like development rather than divert the people's attention. This country has never forgiven ego and arrogance. History is witness to this, the Mahabharata is witness to this, she said at the meeting in support of Kumari Selja, the Congress candidate from Ambala. Duryodhana also had such arrogance. When Lord Krishna went to make him understand, he tried to take him captive, the Congress general secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh said. She read out by Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, saying wisdom is the first casualty before someone's downfall: Jab naash manush par chhata hai, pehle vivek ...
Central forces to be deployed for Tripura West re-polls
The Union Home Ministry has deployed 15 companies of paramilitary forces during re-polling to the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat where voting took place on April 11, a top police official said on Tuesday.