Page 643 - Politics
Send proposal for clearance online: Poll body to Delhi govt
In the run up to the Lok Sabha elections in the city, the poll body has directed the Delhi government's departments to send proposals online for its clearance. In a written communication to the secretary of General Administration Department (GAD), the chief electoral office said that it will not process offline proposals any further. Delhi, which sends seven members to Parliament, will vote in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls on May 12. The poll panel stated that an online module has been devised for seeking exemption for various proposals as per the provisions of model code of conduct and the related guidelines. "...Henceforth, all the proposals seeking exemptions of ECl/CEO should be sent online. This office will not process offline proposals any further. "This may kindly be brought to the notice of all concerned for information and compliance," the CEO office said in the communication. The move came days after the GAD had issued an advisory to all heads of departments asking them
Mamata's wish: Modi's chest swells to 112 inches
Mamata Banerjee, one of the most strident critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Monday she wishes his fabled 56-inch chest doubles to 112 inches as she wants everybody to be in good health. "He has a good figure, I want it to get better; I will be happy if 56-inch becomes 112-inch. I want everybody to be in good health," she told an election rally here with a deadpan expression on her face. Known for pulling no punches against her political adversaries, least of all Modi, the West Bengal chief minister soon set aside the apparent nicety. "But he is cunning enough to know that drinking tea that has been repeatedly boiled is bad for health. He is not offering tea in claypot anymore," Banerjee said, referring to Modi's 'chaiwala' background here in Bishnupur Lok Sabha constituency. "So now he has given up being a chaiwala and has become a chowkidar," the caustic TMC supremo said. Banerjee emphasised on her party's secular credentials, saying the TMC stands for ...
Grenade attack at polling station in J&K's Pulwama
Militants lobbed a grenade at a polling station in Pulwama and set off an explosion at another in the district during voting in the Anantnag constituency of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, police said. There were no casualties in both the incidents, the first militant attack on polling stations in the state during the ongoing Lok Sabha election, an official said. A grenade was lobbed at Rohmoo polling station in Pulwama. Later in the day, an explosive substance was hurled at a polling station in Tral area. The explosion took place outside the polling booth and there was no loss of life or injury to anyone, the official said. Polling was held in Pulwama and Shopian districts of Anantnag, which is going to polls in three phases due to security reasons. Voting in Anantnag district took place on April 23, while Kulgam district went to polls April 29. Peoples Democratic Party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, Congress state president Ghulam Ahmad Mir, former Jammu and ...
Modi unleashed 'tax terrorism' on traders: Kejriwal
AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of unleashing "tax terrorism" on traders and "destroying" the country's financial system. The BJP, which used to be traders' party, has "broken the backbone" of the community, he alleged, adding thousands notices are being sent to traders and all this is being done with the intention of "extorting" money from them. "The Modi government has unleashed 'tax terrorism' on traders," Kejriwal told reporters here. "The policies of the Modi government have ruined traders. In a single stroke, demonetisation brought endless miseries to traders. When the traders' community had barely recovered from this rude shock, the Modi government hastily brought in the GST, which nobody could understand since it was implemented without any proper planning," he alleged. After note ban, the next jolt came in the form of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which led to the closure of many shops and ...
Modi 'tsunami' in 2019 elections: Bihar Dy.CM
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Monday said while there was a Narendra Modi wave in 2014 polls, there is a tsunami of Modi in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
ISIS chose Lanka to tell the world that it exists: Prez Sirisena
The Islamic State terror group chose Sri Lanka to stage a massive attack on Easter Sunday to tell the world that they exist, President Maithripala Sirisena said Monday, amid reports that the plot was hatched in war-torn Syria way back in 2017. More than 250 people, including 11 Indians, were killed and nearly 500 others injured in the co-ordinated suicide bombings, which targeted three Catholic churches and three luxury hotels. The Islamic State terror group claimed the attacks, the island nation's worst, but the government blamed local Islamist extremist group National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ). The government has banned the NTJ and arrested over 100 suspects in connection with the blasts. Commenting on the claim of the ISIS that it carried out the attacks in Sri Lanka, President Sirisena said, "To be very honest, I am shocked and can't understand why they chose Sri Lanka for this attack." He said the ISIS chose Sri Lanka as a target because the terror group has lost the ability to ...
LS polls: 252 FIRs for MCC violation registered in Delhi
In the wake of the ongoing Lok Sabha election, the Election Commission (EC) on Monday announced that it has, by far, registered as many as 252 FIRs in connection with the violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the national capital.Delhi is slated to go for polls in the seventh phase on May 12."Up till now, a total of 252 FIRs have been lodged, out of which 8 are against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), 36 against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 20 against Congress party, two against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), 1 against Samajwadi Party (SP), 5 against Communist Party of India (CPI) and 160 against the heads of other political parties," stated Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh in a press release.59 cases were also recorded against the misuse of official vehicles, blaring of loudspeakers and illegal meetings.Other than that, Municipal Cooperation removed a total of 35, 1303 hoardings from various locations across Delhi and also seized huge amount of cash and narcotics."A record ..
BJP says Cong candidate tried to 'abduct' party worker, complains to EC
The BJP has complained to Rajasthan CEO Anand Kumar against Congress nominee from Sikar Lok Sabha seat Subhash Meharia for allegedly trying to abduct and attack a party worker. In his complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer, state BJP communication department in-charge Nahar Singh Maheshwari said that the Congress nominee attacked party worker Sudhir Garg. He lugged Garg in his vehicle but could not succeed as a number of people gathered at the spot. The party worker sustained injuries on his head and ear, Maheshwari alleged. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader also claimed that the police officers present on the spot failed to act against the Congress leader.
Resigned from UP cabinet on April 13, it's yet to be accepted: OP Rajbhar
Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief OP Rajbhar on Monday said he had resigned as a cabinet minister from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath government over the seat-sharing agreement with the BJP."I had resigned on the night of April 13 from the post of state minister when they (BJP) said that you have to contest on our symbol. I told them I will contest from only one seat but from my own party. However, they did not agree to that either. Following which, I immediately resigned but they did not accept my resignation," said OP Rajbhar while speaking to media persons here.SBSP is an ally of the BJP since 2017 and Rajbhar is a Minister of Backward Welfare in the government led by Yogi Adityanath.Criticising the BJP for declining his proposal of contesting from one seat, Rajbhar said: "They are campaigning in Ballia and other parts of Uttar Pradesh on my name. One can find pictures of OP Rajbhar on posters and vehicles used during roadshows held by BJP. I have registered
Bhujbal to campaign for Digvijaya Singh in Bhopal
Former Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal will campaign for Congress candidate Digvijaya Singh, who is pitted against BJP's Pragya Singh Thakur in the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, the NCP said Monday. Bhujbal will be in Bhopal Tuesday to address a couple of election rallies in support of Singh, a former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, the Sharad Pawar-led party said in a release here. During his tour of the Madhya Pradesh capital, the NCP leader will also address a press conference, it said. Bhujbal's party and the Congress are allies in a bastion of the saffron party where voting will take place on May 12.Maharashtra. Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, is the BJP candidate in Bhopal, a bastion of the saffron party where voting will take place on May 12. Malegaon is a powerloom town in Nashik district of North Maharashtra.
Modi's nationalism is fake: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalism is fake and urged traders not to fall in his trap again.
Moderate to brisk polling in fifth phase of LS elections
Moderate to brisk polling was recorded on Monday in 51 constituencies spread across seven states in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections, with West Bengal leading the tally.The fate of several key leaders including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Minister Smriti Irani will be decided in this phase.Fourteen seats in Uttar Pradesh, 12 in Rajasthan, seven each in West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, five in Bihar and four in Jharkhand went to polls in addition to Ladakh and Anantnag constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.Till late afternoon, a voter turnout of nearly 64 per cent was recorded in West Bengal, 60 in Jharkhand, 55 in Madhya Pradesh, 51 in Rajasthan, 45 each in UP and Bihar and about 16 in J and K, according to the Election Commission.In West Bengal, BJP accused TMC supporters of resorting to rigging during polling for the Barrackpore seat and demanded re-election in the entire constituency. BJP candidate Arjun ...
Strong Gram Panchayats will strengthen country: Yogi
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Monday said strong gram panchayats will strengthen the nation and asked the state's gram pradhans to make sincere efforts to transform villages. Addressing the 'Gram Pradhan Sammelan' here, Adityanath said, "The soul of India resides in its villages. The country's overall growth is not possible without the development of villages. Only strong gram panchayats will make the country strong." "After Independence, Modi ji fulfilled the dream of Mahatma Gandhi of establishing 'gram swaraj'," he added. Crediting Modi for focusing on the development of gram panchayats, Adityanath said that the prime minister has formulated and implemented several schemes and for the first time, Panchayati Raj has been implemented in the country in its real terms. "The financial rights of gram pradhans is even higher than that of an MLA. So, in order to ensure proper utilisation of government funds, pradhans should recognise their rights," he said. "There are a few .
Disqualification move against 3 AIADMK MLAs stayed
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the disqualification proceedings against three rebel AIADMK MLAs in Tamil Nadu.
Modi trying to take personal credit for Balakot strike, says Amarinder
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to take personal credit for the action of the armed forces and said "surgical strike" was just a new jargon for cross-border raids. "Modi is trying to take personal credit for the Balakot air strike... The prime minister had not done anything, said Singh. Was he (Modi) there in 1965, 1975 or Kargil," asked the CM, pointing out that it was former prime minister Indira Gandhi who did 'tukdas' (division) of Pakistan by breaking it into two in 1971 and gave full credit to the Indian Army and Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw. Gandhi had attributed the victory to the valour of the Army, which is what Modi should have done now, he added. Surgical strike was just a new jargon, a 'jumla', like the others the BJP had come out with, for cross-border raids which had been happening for the past 70 years, he said. Modi was simply trying to usurp the courageous acts of the defence services, he said, adding ...
BJP demands re-polling in Bengal's Barrackpore
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday demanded re-polling in West Bengal's Barrackpore parliamentary constituency, alleging that the Trinamool Congress had resorted to rigging and violence to win the elections.
Violence as 3 per cent vote in Anantnag, 52 per cent in Ladakh (Third Lead)
Clashes erupted at many places on Monday between mobs and security forces after the elections ended in the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat with a dismal voter turnout of 3 per cent.
Haryana: Rahul seeks apology from PM for using Army's 'blood' in politics
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise for allegedly politicising the armed forces and using the "blood" of the Army while campaigning."Narendra Modi ji, your people said the Army was your personal property. Narendra Modi ji, the Army does not belong to you. It belongs to the youth, sisters, and mothers of Bhiwani. Their blood is in the Army. When someone gets killed in the Army, they bleed not you, Narendra Modi," Gandhi said in a rally here."Modi ji, you apologise to the country and tell the countrymen that the Army is not yours. Admit that you politicise and use the blood of the Army in politics. When a serviceman dies, they give up their life for India, not for the political strategy of the Prime Minister," Gandhi added.The Congress chief vowed to never politicise the armed forces for electoral gains in his life.He went on to accuse Modi of diverting people's attention from his government's "failures" by citing Pakistan and the
Kashmiri Pandits vote in special booths, hope for end of terrorism and return to homeland
Living miles away from their native place for the past three decades, displaced Kashmiri Pandits Monday voted with the hope for an end to terrorism and peaceful return to their homeland. "We want that South Kashmir should be freed from the twin grave threats (terrorism and radicalisation) to the composite culture of Kashmiriyat," 65-year-old Pyara Lal Pandita, who hailed from Pulwama district of the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, said after casting vote at a special polling station here. The third and last phase polling for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency took place in Pulwama and Shopian districts on Monday. Polling was staggered in the constituency due to security reasons. Kashmiri Pandits, who have been voting in exile for the past three decades in Jammu, Delhi and Udhampur for their native assembly and parliamentary constituencies, say the situation in Kashmir is getting worse due to rampant radicalisation and terrorism, weakening the possibility of their return to and ...
Coalition politics in India will end after this Lok Sabha elections: Harsh Vardhan
This Lok Sabha elections will prove to be a milestone as it will end coalition politics in the country, senior BJP leader and Union minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday. Vardhan claimed that there was no fight for him in the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat, from where he is seeking a reelection. "After the Lok Sabha elections, the politics of coalition will be finished as people are becoming more aware. It will be a milestone election for such politics," he said at a press conference. The minister of science is locked in a triangular contest in the trader-dominated constituency, along with Congress's two-time lawmaker from the seat JP Agarwal and AAP's Pankaj Gupta. "I have replied to journalists at least 21 times as to who is my nearest rival. So, I gave it some thought based on the feedback from people. I can say, there is no fight for me. There is fight between the AAP and the Congress for the second place," he said. Vardhan said he worked sincerely for all communities as a lawmaker .