Page 642 - Politics
Maoists choose democratic path in Nepal as armed revolution fails to change system: Prachanda
Ruling Nepal Communist Party president Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Monday said armed revolutions have not been able to change any system and that that is why Maoists have chosen the peaceful and democratic path in the country. Prachanda, who was once a strong proponent of armed struggle in the Himalayan kingdom to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic country, said there is a need for serious discussion on Marxist ideology and its experiment in Nepal. Addressing a programme organised here to mark the 201st birth anniversary of Karl Marx, a German philosopher who is considered the father of communism', he said several armed revolutions have failed in the world context. Such revolutions have not been able to change any system...That is why we have chosen the peaceful and democratic way out," Prachanda, who is a former Moaist leader, said. He said socialism will not come through the development of capitalism, and neither it can be brought without dismantling the feudal ...
Delhi court reserves order on Atishi's complaint against Gautam Gambhir
A Delhi Court on Monday reserved its order on a complaint filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from East Delhi parliamentary constituency Atishi Marlena against her BJP opponent Gautam Gambhir.Marlena has accused Gambhir of possessing two voter ID cards.Metropolitan Magistrate Viplav Dabas reserved the order on the summoning of documents and records from the Election Commission and would pass judgment over Atishi's complaint on May 13.Advocates Rishikesh and Mohd Irshad appearing for Atishi withdrew another prayer by the politician seeking direction to the Delhi Police to investigate the matter.The AAP leader has claimed that Gambhir is a registered voter in both Karol Bagh and Rajinder Nagar areas of Delhi.During a hearing on May 1, Atishi's counsel said, "we have a screenshot of the national voter list. One entry of Karol Bagh and on the next page registration of voter from Rajendra Nagar."Judge Viplav Dabas had then said, "What is the relevance of bringing this case here. You ..
Presence of Russian military may be expanded, says Venezuela Foreign Minister Arreaza
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Monday said the presence of Russian military could be expanded in the Latin American country."We need to provide for equipment maintenance and exchange military and technical information. This work has been going on since 2001 when we signed an agreement on military cooperation. Currently, a commission of specialists is present on the territory of Venezuela and, no doubt, it may be expanded," TASS quoted Arreaza as saying.In a press conference held at Venezuelan Embassy here, a day after meeting his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Arreaza told reporters that Venezuela will be prepared for any scenario, including armed aggression by the United States."We will be ready for any scenario, but we put the emphasis on diplomacy first," Arreaza said."We are for peace and we wish to talk to everybody about peace, but if the United States prefers a military path, we have our armed forces, our people's militia, and the people, and we will be ...
Pak Hindu Council criticises appointment of Muslim as ETPB chairman
A representative body of Hindus in Pakistan has criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan for appointing Aamer Ahmed as the chairman of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and demanded that a Hindu should be made the chief of the board. Evacuee Trust Property Board, established in 1960, is a statutory body of the Government of Pakistan, which administers evacuee properties and shrines of Hindus and Sikhs who had migrated to India following the partition. Pakistan Hindu Council, in a statement, said it will approach the Supreme Court and International Court of Justice, if Prime Minister Khan fails to review his decision. "This is quite strange for Pakistani Hindu community to see appointment of Muslims and Christians as board members," PHC President Gopal Khamuani and Secretary General Parshotam Ramani said in a statement, emphasising that both communities have nothing to do with the Hindu properties in Pakistan. "(Prime Minister) Imran Khan, no doubt, had emerged as a ray of hope for ...
Fight polls on 'Bofors accused' PM's name: Modi dares Cong
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday challenged the Congress to fight the remaining phases of Lok Sabha elections on the issue of self-respect of the 'Bofors accused' Prime Minister's name, in an apparent reference to Rajiv Gandhi."I challenge the Congress party, its president, his family and associates to fight the remaining two phases of the elections on the issue of respect of the former Prime Minister who faced serious charges of corruption," Modi said at a rally here.Last week, the Prime Minister, while addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh, had said, "Your father (Rajiv Gandhi) was termed 'Mr Clean' by his courtiers, but his life ended as 'Bhrashtachari No 1."A day after Modi's remark, Congress president Rahul Gandhi hit back at the Prime Minister saying, "Projecting your inner beliefs about yourself onto my father won't protect you.""Modi Ji, the battle is over. Your Karma awaits you. Projecting your inner beliefs about yourself onto my father won't protect you. All my love and
63.64% voter turnout recorded in Rajasthan LS polls
Rajasthan recorded 63.64 pc voting on Monday in the second round of polling in the state for 12 seats, an official said.
Despite being Union min, Harsimrat did nothing for Punjab: Amarinder
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Monday slammed Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, accusing her of doing "nothing" for the state despite being a part of the Centre. Hitting back at the Punjab chief minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal asked why welfare schemes initiated by the previous SAD government had allegedly been stopped by the current Congress regime. The chief minister was taking questions from people who had gathered here in support of Congress candidates for Khadoor Sahib and Amritsar seats, Jasbir Singh Dimpa and Gurjit Singh Aujla, as per party release. "This Bibi (Harsimrat) failed to do anything for her own state despite being a part of the Union government," Amarinder Singh said, adding that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government at the Centre too was not keen in the development of the state. Amarinder Singh blamed the central government for the shortage of gunny bags that led to the problem of slow lifting of wheat crop in mandis. "Our opponents have adopted .
BJP stages protest against Mir's killing, seeks security for political workers in JK
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP Monday staged a protest here against the recent killing of its senior leader Gul Mohammad Mir by terrorists and sought adequate security to political workers facing threat. Led by state party president Ravinder Raina, scores of BJP leaders and workers assembled outside the Press Club here to protest against the killing. Mir was shot dead by three militants in his house at Nowgam-Verinag in Anantnag district of south Kashmir late Saturday night. The protesters raised slogans against Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism in the state. He said despite facing a threat to his life, the security of Mir was withdrawn about three months ago leaving him vulnerable to attack by terrorists. "We seek intervention of President Ram Nath Kovind to restore the security of all political activists facing threat to their lives, irrespective of their political affiliation, forthwith," he said. Former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta said the state administration was .
Congress delegation meets EC over PM Modi's remark against Rajiv Gandhi
A delegation of senior Congress leaders including Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Rajiv Shukla and Salman Khurshid met officials of Election Commission on Monday and apprised the commission about their objection over a statement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.Briefing media after their meeting, Congress leader Singhvi said, "We have apprised the election commission about a very serious statement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. It seems like the person who made such statements has no knowledge or understanding of Indian culture and tradition. The statements by Prime Minister and BJP chief are continuously violating the law.""We have appealed to Election Commission to put an immediate prohibition on campaigning on Prime Minister Modi. We have requested them for a decision on the issue within 48 hours," added Singhvi.He also asserted that the Court has already quashed cases regarding the Bofors issue
AAP's Sanjay Singh meets Delhi police chief, seeks probe into attack on Kejriwal
Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh Monday said he met Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and sought a detailed probe into the recent attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow in the New Delhi constituency. During the roadshow on Saturday, Kejriwal was slapped by a man. The AAP has alleged that the BJP is behind the "cowardly act". Singh said Kejriwal has been attacked nine times and it indicates that a bigger attack on him is impending. In his meeting with Patnaik on Monday, he sought a detailed inquiry. The AAP leader also alleged that Kejriwal was attacked after he publicly questioned ties between Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Singh also questioned the silence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi on the matter. "All opposition parties condemned the attack but Rahul Gandhi was silent. It means both the BJP and the Congress are involved in the conspiracy," he said. Singh said the AAP has conveyed its concerns to Patnaik in writing. Kejriwal was ...
Secure EVM strongrooms, Maharashtra Congress to EC
Apprehending tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPATs used in the recent Lok Sabha elections in the state, the Maharashtra Congress on Monday asked the Election Commission (EC) to secure all the strongrooms where EVMs were stored.
Fight last two phases for Rajiv's honour, Modi tell Congress
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday challenged the Congress to fight the last two phases of polls for the honour of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Over 57 per cent voting in 14 UP constituencies
Over 57 per cent voter turnout was recorded Monday in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh where Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi are in the fray. Till 6 pm, the closing time, 57.33 per cent polling was witnessed in the state, Election Commission officials said. The final figure is expected to go up when the votes of those still in the queue at this time are taken into account. Among the early voters in the state capital were Home Minister Singh, BSP supremo Mayawati, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, state police chief O P Singh and Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar. Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's Amethi candidate Irani alleged that the Congress president was "ensuring booth capturing" in the constituency. She tagged a video in which an elderly women is seen alleging that her finger was forcibly put on the 'panja' (hand), the ...
Supreme Court stay a big blow to AIADMK, says Stalin
DMK president M K Stalin described the Supreme Court stay on the disqualification proceedings against two AIADMK MLAs as a big blow to the ruling party in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK would not be able to save its government in Tamil Nadu following the apex court stay, Stalin said while campaigning for party candidate Pongalur N Palanisamy contesting from the Sulur assembly segment. Stalin claimed that numbers would favour DMK after the results of byelections to 22 seats were declared on May 23 and his party would form the government in the State. The ruling party, in order to save the government, petitioned the Assembly Speaker to disqualify the three MLAs on the pretext that they were supporting the AMMK, Stalin said and termed the apex court stay as a big blow to the AIADMK. The DMK and MDMK have opposed any possible disqualification of the three MLAs claiming the AIADMK move was "only to protect" the Palaniswami government as it will 'lose' majority after the outcome of ...
80 per cent polling recorded in 5 booths
: About 80 per cent polling was recorded in five polling booths in Andhra Pradesh Monday, where a re-poll was conducted without any incident. Braving the scorching heat wave, voters queued up at the five polling booths and cast their votes in good numbers. The re-poll was ordered in view of technical glitches in the Electronic Voting Machines in these polling booths when general elections were held on April 11. Accordingly, re-polling was conducted in polling booth 94 pertaining to Narsaraopet Assembly and Lok Sabha segments, booth 244 of Guntur West Assembly and Lok Sabha segments in Guntur district. It was also held in booth 247 of Yerragondapalem Assembly and Ongole Lok Sabha segments; polling booth 41 of Kovur Assembly segment under Nellore Lok Sabha constituency and 197 of Sullurupeta Assembly segment under Tirupati parliamentary constituency. Elections for 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats were held in one go on April 11 in the state. Counting of votes will be ...
Plot to assassinate PM Modi by disqualified SP candidate outrageous: BJP
The BJP on Monday expressed dismay at the "outrageous" statement made by disqualified SP candidate from Varanasi Tej Bahadur Yadav, who allegedly hatched a plot to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi in exchange for Rs 50 lakh."We are stunned by the statements of disqualified SP candidate from Varanasi, Tej Bahadur Yadav. We can see on television how he is telling the people that he is willing to plot the murder of PM Narendra Modi for a sum of Rs 50 crore. The fact that he was sought to be drafted by the Samajwadi Party as a candidate from Varanasi, it really stuns us," BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao told media here."Parties like Congress in the past have supported urban naxals who, in a similar way, hatched a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister. In the charge sheet filed in the Bhima Koregaon case in a Pune court, the plot to assassinate PM Modi was clearly elaborated," he added."We expect all those who believe in democracy and all right-thinking people to strongly to condemn ..
Violence mars nearly 74% voting in Bengal (4th Lead)
Amid attacks on two BJP candidates, Arjun Singh and Locket Chatterjee, and also on polling agents of oppositions parties in West Bengal along with cases of intimidation, violence, bombings and EVM glitches, nearly 74 per cent of electorate in seven constituencies in the state voted till 5 p.m. on Monday in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls.
252 FIRs, DD entries against political parties, others for poll code violation: Delhi CEO
Over 250 FIRs and daily diary (DD) entries were registered against political parties and others here till date for violation of the model code of conduct, officials said Monday. The statistics surveillance team of Delhi's Chief Electoral Office, constituted to keep an eye on the expenses of political parties, has seized Rs 4.08 crore in cash and 1412 kg of narcotics and drugs. "A total of 252 FIRs or DD entries have been lodged till date in connection with violation of the model code of conduct," the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said in a statement. "Out of these, 28 are against the Aam Aadmi Party (16 FIRs and 12 DD entries), 36 against the Bharatiya Janata Party (17 FIRs and 19 DD entries), 20 against the Congress (five FIRs and 15 DD entries), two against the Bahujan Samaj Party (two FIRs), the Samajwadi Party (one DD entry), five against the CPI(M) (two FIRs and three DD entries) and 160 (156 FIRs and four DD entries) are against others or non-political ...
'CEO can't seek to disqualify elected local body member'
Kerala's State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday told the state's Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena that he is not the competent authority to recommend the disqualification of an elected local body member.
Rahul Gandhi missing from Amethi on polling day
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday did not turn up in his parliamentary constituency Amethi where polling was on along with 50 other Lok Sabh seats across seven states in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections.