Page 635 - Politics
ED seizes property of AAP minister's brother worth Rs 1.46 crore
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday seized assets worth Rs 1.46 crore under section 37A of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) of 1999 belonging to Harish Gahlot, brother of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Kailash Gahlot.The ED has seized his flat in Vasant Kunj and a piece of land at Chauma Village in Haryana for holding foreign assets equivalent to the same value in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Harish Gahlot is the brother of Kailash Gahlot, who is a cabinet minister in Delhi government.Last year in October, the Income Tax (IT) department had recovered Rs 35 lakh and a dossier of Benami properties during the raids carried out at 16 locations belonging to Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot.The I-T sleuths had carried out raids at the Aam Aadmi Party leader's properties in Delhi and Gurugram.
BJP wanted to finish my party: Rajbhar (IANS Interview)
Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) President Om Prakash Rajbhar, who claimed to have walked out of the Yogi Adityanath government on Monday, has said that the BJP wanted to "finish" his party.
UK's May seeks Brexit deal amid mounting pressure to quit
The British government is making a final push to do a Brexit deal with the opposition Labour Party, amid mounting outrage from Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party at the prospect of compromise. Senior Conservative and Labour lawmakers are meeting to see whether they can reach a compromise. Several weeks of talks have so far not produced a breakthrough. Almost three years after Britain voted to leave the EU, the date and terms of Brexit remain uncertain because lawmakers have repeatedly rejected May's divorce deal with the bloc. That has led her to seek a deal with Labour to the fury of pro-Brexit Conservatives, who are demanding May's resignation. The head of a powerful Conservative committee is due to meet May Tuesday to deliver a demand for "clarity" about her departure date.
Turkey's Erdogan says Istanbul vote re-run is 'best step'
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday welcomed a controversial order to re-run the recent Istanbul election after complaints of corruption as the "best step" for the country. "We see this decision as the best step that will strengthen our will to solve problems within the framework of democracy and law," Erdogan told a meeting of his party members in parliament. Erdogan's comments come a day after the top election body cancelled the March 31 vote that handed opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu a narrow lead over Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The AKP has refused to accept defeat, citing "irregularities and corruption" in the vote. Erdogan on Tuesday talked of "organised crime" and "serious corruption" during the vote. "The documents we have presented are quite solid and based on concrete evidence which cannot be disputed," he said. "We sincerely believe there was organised corruption and irregularities." He said that if his government did not bring ..
Pompeo meeting with Merkel cancelled over 'pressing issues'
The US State Department says a planned meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chancellor Angela Merkel has been cancelled. Pompeo was due to meet Merkel and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Berlin on Tuesday. The State Department said the meetings have had to be rescheduled due to "pressing issues" but offered no further comment on why. Neither Merkel's nor Mass's office had any immediate comment. Pompeo has been taking part in a meeting of the Arctic Council in Finland. It wasn't immediately clear where he would be heading next. The State Department says Pompeo "looks forward to being in Berlin soon" to hold the "important set of meetings" that had been scheduled.
Trying to convince people to vote for education, health instead of Mandir-Masjid: Sisodia
Replying to a notice sent by the Delhi poll panel, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Tuesday said he had no hesitation in accepting that he was trying to convince people to vote for education and health instead of Mandir-Masjid (politics of religion). Sisodia was issued a notice by the Delhi chief electoral officer following a complaint by the BJP which alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) used public funds for issuing letters seeking votes by highlighting achievements of the government. "However, as far as the complaint of Bharatiya Janata Party leader is concerned, I would like to say that this is nothing but expression of their frustration. The letters have been written by me to individuals in my personal capacity. No public fund has been used in sending the letters," he said in his reply. The minister also urged the BJP not to indulge in "petty politics" and try to seek votes on the basis of work "if they have done any". He said the Election Commission should "also ...
Cong will protect forests, land and 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. The standard of living of the poor would also be improved through the 'NYAY' scheme, he said at an election rally here in support of Congress and 'Mahagathbandhan' candidate Gita Koda from the Singhbhum (ST) Lok Sabha constituency. "We will protect the jal, jungle, zameen (water, forest and land) of tribals," Gandhi said. Asserting that the 'NYAY' scheme would 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 Congress chief also said 22 lakh government posts are lying vacant, which would would be filled up if the party came to power. Gita Koda, the wife of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, is fighting against BJP MP and its state unit president Laxman Gilua from the ...
Sadhus in MP perform 'hatha yoga' for Digvijaya win
Sadhus in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday performed 'hatha yoga' in support of former Chief Minister and Congress candidate from this Lok Sabha constituency Digvijaya Singh.
Everyone has to pay for their crimes: Punjab CM
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday vowed to make everyone pay for their crimes, including for the desecration of the holy scriptures to create a communal divide to woo Sikh votes during their rule.
If not in India, will we take Ram's name in Pakistan: Shah asks Mamata
BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday claimed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee "has a problem" if someone says 'Jai Shri Ram.'Addressing a rally in Ghatal, Shah said, "Since last three days, I have been seeing in West Bengal that Mamata didi has a problem when somebody says 'Jai Shri Ram'... I want to ask Mamata didi if not in India, will we take Shri Ram's name in Pakistan?... Nobody can stop us from saying 'Jai Shri Ram'."Shah's remark comes after three people were reportedly arrested for chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' when Mamata's convoy was passing by.The BJP chief further claimed that his party will win more than 23 seats in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections."Mamata didi, you can make efforts to stop our rallies, spread lies, can do anything, but on May 23 BJP will win more than 23 seats (in West Bengal)," he said.Shah said that after coming to power again, the NDA will "first bring the Citizenship Amendment Bill to give Indian citizenship to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist,
Modi not serious on Ram temple, only using it to exploit emotions: Sibal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are not serious about the Ayodhya Ram temple but are using it to "exploit emotions" of the people during every election, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal has said.
Violence against journalists in WB: Editors Guild asks EC to take action
The Editors Guild has condemned several incidents of physical attack on journalists in West Bengal during the fifth phase of polling and urged the Election Commission to take action against those who indulged in such acts. Physical attacks against journalists are always reprehensible, but particularly so during elections as they undermine fair media scrutiny of an election, the Guild said in a statement. The Editors Guild said it condemns several incidents of physical attack on journalists in West Bengal on May 6, during the fifth phase of polling. Journalists belonging to different media organisations including NewsX, ABP Ananda and Zee News were attacked, allegedly by workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the statement said. The Guild urges the EC to initiate necessary action against those who indulged in physical violence against journalists and asks the TMC-led West Bengal government to ensure law and order in the state so that journalists are not attacked by political parties .
People will vote for Kejriwal, his work: AAP South Delhi candidate
AAP's South Delhi Lok Sabha candidate Raghav Chadha feels people living in the national capital will vote for the work done by the party and its leader as well as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the last four years.
AP Chief Electoral Officer inaugurates training camp on counting in Amaravati
Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gopal Krishna Dwivedi, on Tuesday, inaugurated the training programme for Returning Officers and staff on counting.A total of ten persons per district will be trained in the programme on the precautions to be taken and rules and regulations to be followed. The trained personnel will then go to their respective districts and train local personnel on May 17.The process begins with the counting of postal ballot votes. If postal votes are more than the majority votes obtained by the winner, postal ballots will be recounted.For vote counting, staff will be selected on the randomization method just one day prior to the day of counting. Locals, residents or even those employed in the assembly constituency should not be employed in the counting process. The observers will select the counting staff and announce their counting table only one hour before the process starts.It is estimated that a maximum of 150 counting staff will be required for one ..
Hooda clan in Haryana fray to revive Congress
It is a high-stakes battle for the Hooda father-son duo and also for their Congress party in these parliamentary polls in Haryana where the legacy matters and where the party has been on a steady downhill journey since its humiliating rout in 2014.
Congress names 21 lakh farmers whose loans axed
The Congress on Tuesday handed over the list of 21 lakh farmers whose loans the ruling party says it has waived off to former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Modi govt has run economy, security into the ground by Modi government: Yechury
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Tuesday attacked the BJP government, alleging that the country's economy and security have been run into the ground in the last five years. In a series of tweets, he listed the "failures" of the government since 2014 and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot escape the pitfalls. "The plot and more has been lost under the Modi govt. Jobs and Spending down, benefitting noone, except the cronies who have been taken care of. At least Rs 5.5 lakh crore of public loans waived off for them since 2014. "A litany of failures, which Modi can't escape: Modi govt has run the Economy into the ground. Terror attacks in J&K were up 176% even though the harebrained Notebandi was to cut off terror funding. Truce violations by Pakistan increased 100% since 2014," Yechury tweeted. On Monday, a war of words broke out between Modi and Yechury after the prime minister hit out at the Left leader for his alleged "derogatory" remarks against two great Hindu ...
Will Lord Ram's name be taken in Pak, if not in India: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Tuesday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is not allowing people to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' in the state, and wondered if the Lord's name cannot be taken in India, will it be uttered in Pakistan. Speaking at an election rally here, he said that polls in West Bengal are for restoring democracy in the state, where the BJP will win "more than 23 seats" out of the total 42 Lok Sabha seats. "Lord Ram is a part of the culture of India... Can anybody stop people from taking his name? I want to ask Mamata didi, if Shri Ram's name is not taken in India, will it be chanted in Pakistan?" Shah said. A video had appeared in the social media that showed Banerjee stopping her car at a place in West Midnapore district on Saturday, and chasing some persons who chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' as her carcade was crossing the area. "The Narendra Modi government has given Rs 4,24,800 crore to West Bengal in its five-year tenure, but it has not reached the ..
Regional parties will play prominent role at centre : Pinarayi Vijayan
Against the backdrop of his meeting with Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday that regional parties will play a prominent role at the Ccentre after the Lok Sabha elections.Vijayan, however, said there was no discussion between them about the prime ministerial candidate."Yesterday's meeting with K C Rao was significant. We discussed the national political scenario. According to Rao, both the fronts may not get a majority. So, the regional parties will play a prominent role. There were no discussions about the PM candidate," said Pinarayi Vijayan.On Monday, Rao met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Thiruvananthapuram. The meeting between the two leaders took place at the official residence of Kerala chief minister.KCR floated the idea of 'Federal Front' in March last year and initiated efforts to provide an alternative to both the BJP and Congress at the centre. He had subsequently met leaders of the Trinamool ...
IMF chief says US-China tensions 'threat' to world economy
The head of the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday that fresh trade tensions between the United States and China were the main threat to the world economy. "Clearly the tensions between the United States and China are the threat for the world economy," Christine Lagarde told journalists at a conference in Paris, adding that recent "rumours and tweets" made an agreement between the countries less likely.