Page 644 - Politics
BJP trying to force everybody to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' : Mamata
Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said that 'Jai Shri Ram' is the BJP's slogan and it is trying to force everybody to chant it. "Does Ramchandra become BJP's election agent when election comes?" the fiery TMC supremo asked at public rallies here. None can be forced to chant what Narendra Modi or BJP want, she said adding that West Bengal's culture has never been what the the saffron party is trying to make it. The slogan of the people of Bengal is 'Vandemataram' of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and 'Jai Hind' of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, she said. "Why should I give your slogan? I will not chant the name of rotten Modi or rotten BJP. They are trying to erase the culture of Bengal," a combative Banerjee said. A video has appeared in the social media that shows Banerjee stopping her car at a place in West Midnapore district and chasing some persons who chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' as her carcade was passing the area. Prime Minister
UP: 53.19% voting till 5 pm in 14 Lok Sabha seats
Over 53 per cent voter turnout was recorded Monday till 5 pm in 14 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh where Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi are in the fray. Among early voters in the state capital included Home Minister Singh, BSP supremo Mayawati, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, DGP OP Singh and Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar. Election Commission of India officials here said polling was going on smoothly, barring some complaints of EVM malfunctioning which were attended to immediately. Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's Amethi candidate Irani alleged that the Congress president was "ensuring booth capturing" in the constituency. "Alert @ECISVEEP Congress President @Rahul Gandhi ensuring booth capturing," she said on Twitter. She also tagged a video in which an elderly women is seen alleging that her finger was forcibly put on 'panja' ...
PM Modi doing politics with cyclone Fani: Mamata
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a proposed meeting on cyclone Fani, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused him of doing politics with the natural disaster and also flouting the federal structure of the country.
'Boxer' Modi punches party leaders, says Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by portraying him as a "boxer" who punched his party leaders like L.K. Advani and flattened the common man's policies.
Modi at centre of BJP's poll campaign in national capital
The BJP Monday launched a new campaign slogan targeting the national capital, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi being at the centre of it. With the catchphrase 'Dilli ke dil me hai josh, Dilli ke dil me hai Modi' (There is enthusiasm in Delhi's heart, Modi is in Delhi's heart), the BJP released advertisement videos to reach out to people. All the seven Lok Sabha seats of Delhi will go to the polls in the sixth phase of the general election on May 12. The placement of Modi at the centre of its campaign underlines the saffron party's thrust to transcend local issues and make the choice for people all about its main leader whose popularity, it believes, will help it rise above city-specific concerns and debate over candidates. Riding the 'Modi wave', the BJP had won all the seven seats in 2014. The has dropped two of its MPs this time.
US to deploy Carrier Strike Group, bomber task force to counter 'troubling' Iran actions
US national security adviser John Bolton on Sunday said Washington is planning to deploy the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force in the Middle East to counter a "number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings" from Iran.Bolton told CNN that there were threats to both the US maritime and land-based forces in the region. The deployments are aimed specifically at deterring any Iranian military actions, the official added.In a statement released by the White House, Bolton said the US was deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the US Central Command region in the Middle East "to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force.""The United States is not seeking war with the Iranian regime, but we are fully prepared to respond to any attack, whether by proxy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard ...
West Bengal records highest voter turnout in fifth phase
With voting for the fifth phase drawing to an end in the seven states, West Bengal has so far recorded a voter turnout of 69.48 per cent, highest among all states that went to poll in this phase.As of 5 PM, Jharkhand has recorded a turnout of 58.07 per cent whereas 57.76 per cent people have polled their votes in Madhya Pradesh.In Uttar Pradesh, the voting percentage has reached at 48.98 per cent, whereas in Rajasthan it was 56.41 per cent.Jammu and Kashmir, where two districts of Anantnag parliamentary constituency and Ladakh constituency went to polls today, the voter turnout was recorded at 16.77 per cent.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 poll today, in addition to two constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.According to the Election Commission of India, over 8.75 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballot to decide the fate of 674 candidates across the country. As many as ...
Won't join, support BJP, swears Goa AAP candidate
AAP's candidate for the Panaji assembly bypoll Valmiki Naik on Monday released an affidavit stating he will not join the BJP nor join the coalition government if he wins.
About 59% voting till 5 pm in 12 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan
About 59 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm Monday in 12 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan where two former Olympians are among the 134 candidates in the fray. The maximum voter turnout of 68.89 per cent was recorded in the Ganganagar (SC) seat. Jaipur,Churuand Alwar recorded 63.89 per cent, 61.21 per cent and 60.99 cent polling, respectively, according to the website of the chief electoral officer of Rajasthan. Polling began at 7 am in Ganganagar (SC), Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur seats. The overall polling percentage in the 12 seats till 5 pm was about 59 per cent, as per the website of the state poll panel. A total of 2.30 crore voters across these 12 constituencies are eligible to decide the fate of the 134 candidates, among whom 16 are women. As many as 23,738 polling stations have been set up in the state for the smooth conduct of the polls. The candidates contesting the election include two ...
China slams US naval ships sailing through SCS; denounces Pentagon report on Chinese military
China on Monday protested over two US warships sailing near islands claimed by it in the disputed South China Sea, saying it violates its sovereignty and also denounced a Pentagon report on Chinese military's modernisation as an attempt to spread the "China threat theory". The US guided-missile destroyers 'Preble' and 'Chung Hoon' travelled within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson Reefs in the Spratly Islands, which Beijing calls Nansha. The latest US challenge to Beijing's territorial claims in the region comes amid trade tensions as President Donald Trump said Sunday he would raise tariffs on USD 200 billion in Chinese goods on Friday because talks were moving "too slowly". On May 6 two US warships without the permission of the Chinese government have entered the adjacent waters of the Johnson reef in China's Nansha island in the South China Sea, (SCS)," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here on Monday. He said the Chinese navy identified the .
J-K: Petrol bomb hurled at polling station in Shopian
Unidentified miscreants on Monday hurled a petrol bomb at a polling station in south Kashmir's Shopian.The bomb was hurled at the polling station set up in the Government Higher Secondary School (Boys), Shopian.No casualties have been reported yet.Currently, polling is underway in parliamentary constituencies of Anantnag and Ladakh.
Virbhadra under pressure form Congress: Himachal CM
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday said some Congress leaders were putting pressure on senior leader Virbhadra Singh to make misleading statements during the Lok Sabha elections.
Shiv Sena condemns attack on Kejriwal
The Shiv Sena Monday condemned the latest attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said there should not be any lapse in his security. The BJP also ally said the Kejriwal-led AAP government has done some good work in the fields of education and health. Kejriwal was slapped by a man during a roadshow in Delhi last week. The CM was on an open jeep when the man wearing a red T-shirt jumped onto the vehicle and slapped him. In its mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Sena said, "Political and social intolerance is growing in India. But acts such as throwing ink or hurling shoes (at politicians) is not going to solve problems." It looks like the Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader has set a record of sorts in facing such assaults after becoming the chief minister of the city-state, the Marathi daily said. He has faced nearly a dozen such attacks, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said. "Such acts of insulting senior politicians in the country should be stopped at once," said the saffron ...
Pakistan, Afghanistan vow to enhance regional peace and co-operation
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday exchanged their views on matters related to peace, security, and prosperity in the region.Afghan President Ghani had made a phone call to Pakistan Prime Minister Khan.Dawn cited a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) saying that the two leaders resolved to enhance regional connectivity, benefiting the socio-economic development, alleviation of poverty and welfare of people.In the statement, Khan said that for the sake of the people of the two countries, the aim of the leadership should be to help build peace, promote economic activities and advance connectivity for regional prosperity."The prolonged Afghan conflict has damaged Afghanistan and adversely affected Pakistan over the past many decades," the statement said.Khan reiterated his vision for finding a peaceful solution to the Afghan conflict, fully owned and led by Afghans themselves.He even assured Ghani that Pakistan would spare ..
N Korea's recent projectile launch not provocative: S Korean intelligence agency
South Korea's intelligence agency on Monday claimed that North Korea's recent projectile launch is not provocative as they appear to be "ground-to-ground" weapons.This comes after North Korea reportedly fired multiple "projectiles" into the sea off its east coast on Saturday. The exact weapon launched is still being analysed, according to Yonhap News Agency.Furthermore, South Korea's National Intelligence Service stated that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to help in creating a breakthrough in stalled nuclear talks with the United States during their meeting in the Russian city of Vladivostok last month.The two countries, the United States and North Korea, failed to resolve their differences on sanction waivers during their second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam in February. This led to the summit ending abruptly, without a joint agreement which was expected to chart the future course in the denuclearisation process."Russia sided with the US on the ...
'Varuna' naval exercise to strengthen Indian, France relations
The 17th edition of 'Varuna', the bilateral naval exercise by Indian and French Navies, is underway here to strengthen the friendly relations and interoperability between the navies of two countries, said statement issued by the navies of India and France."Relations between our Navies lie within the framework of the India/France. Strategic Partnership signed in 1998 to improve our bilateral military cooperation France and India have reached a very high level of military interaction enabling a mutual understanding and fostering regular upgrades of our interoperability through bilateral exercises," a joint statement said.The naval exercise was started in 1993 between Indian and France is a vital part of the growing strategic relationship between the two countries."Exercise Varuna has grown in scale, scope and complexity over the years, underscoring the shared interests and commitment of both nations in promoting maritime security," the statement read."Units from the Indian Navy's ...
AAP leader Devinder Sehrawat joins BJP
Former AAP leader Devinder Sehrawat joined the BJP on Monday in presence of Union minister Vijay Goel."I draw courage from the people of my constituency and this is the reason why I am joining the country's best political party BJP after getting freedom from AAP. I envision myself as a soldier for PM Modi's team in the service of the nation. I have served over 20 years in the army, also engaged in social work and as a journalist, I have written over 100 articles on rural issues," he said.Talking about his experiences with AAP, he said, "I met Vijay Goel Ji who advised me to read on rural issues. I was working on issues of land acquisition. At that time I met Arvind Kejriwal and it is then that he started a movement on Jan Lokpal. I always supported AAP on the right issues and also drew attention to the wrongdoings in the party. My loyalty was towards the public; this is the reason why I faced the ire of AAP. They insulted me by never including me in any programmes and ...
'Boxer' Modi gave blows to coach Advani after entering 'ring': Rahul in Bhiwani
Speaking from the land of boxing, Congress President Rahul Gandhi described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a boxer who punched his coach Lal Krishna Advani and coileagues Nitin Gadkari and Arun Jaitley instead of fighting issues like unemployment, poverty and farm distress."In the last elections, India sent a boxer named Narendra Modi to the ring. His opponents were unemployment, farmers issues and corruption. Modi's coach was Advani ji. As soon as he entered the ring, he gave punches at the face of Advani ji. Advani ji was astonished," Gandhi said at a rally here.He said, "The very first thing boxer Narendra Modi did after entering the ring was to insult his guru with two punches. After that, this boxer has beaten up the poor, deprived and farmers in the last five years. People say they do not want this boxer anymore."Soon after he became prime minister, Modi formed a 'margadarshak mandal' consisting of leaders above 75 that included former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and other .
Mamata Govt depriving poor of benefits under Ayushman Bharat scheme: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit out at West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and alleged that she is not allowing poor of the state to reap health benefits provided under Center's Ayushman Bharat scheme.Addressing an election rally here, Prime Minister Modi said, "Under Ayushman Bharat, Rs 5 lakh insurance is provided to poor every year. But Mamata Banerjee has been depriving poor of these benefits."Continuing his attack on the West Bengal chief minister, Prime Minister Modi said, "We have made strict law against human trafficking. There is a provision of capital punishment for heinous crimes like rape. But TMC is not able to implement the law in West Bengal.""In West Bengal to say lord Ram's name is like committing a crime. He (Sitaram Yechury) did not even respect the words in his name, 'Sita-Ram,' he insulted both Ramayana and Mahabharata," added PM Modi while criticising CPM leader Sitaram Yechury comments that Ramayana and Mahabharata are filled with specimens of .
Anyone talking about dividing India will be put behind bars: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Monday cornered Congress for promising removal of sedition law and said that irrespective of what the opposition says, anyone talking about dividing India would be put behind bars by the Narendra Modi government."BJP has promised to remove Article 370 from Kashmir whereas Rahul Gandhi says that they will remove the section dealing with sedition. Rahul, Lalu, and Rabri can say anything they want but under the government of Narendra Modi anyone who will talk of dividing our motherland India will be put behind bars," Shah said while addressing a poll rally here.Shah's attack comes months after Congress released its manifesto on April 2, in which it promised to remove the sedition law to give a "fillip to freedom of the expression" in the country if the party was voted to power.Claiming the presence of a 'Modi wave' across the country, Shah said, "This is the 291th parliamentary constituency which I am visiting as part of an election campaign. I have visited ...