Page 648 - Politics
'Gathbandhan' wants to take Bihar into era of 'lantern', BJP into LED bulbs: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Monday said 'Gathbandhan' (grand alliance) wants to take Bihar back into the era of 'lantern' while the BJP wants to take the state ahead into the era of 'LED bulb'."The 'Gathbandhan' is taking Bihar back into the era of 'lantern' while we are taking you into the era of LED bulbs. They want 'jungle raj' while we want 'Janta raj', they want loot order of 'Lalu raj' while we want law and order," said Shah addressing an election rally here."Bihar has suffered a lot. Bihar has seen the 'jungle raj' of Lalu and Rabri. After Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi came, it started walking on the track of development. After Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the unprecedented development occurred and the local train was converted into a high-speed express train. This all happened due to the 'double engine' government," he added.The Congress, which ruled the state for several years, lost power to Janata Dal (United), which formed the government in 1990 under the ...
Libya: Haftar's air force destroys GNA's headquaters
Khalifa Haftar-led forces destroyed the headquarters' of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, reported Sputnik.The Libyan National Army (LNA), which is led by renegade commander Haftar attacked the headquarters on Sunday, LNA press service reported.Earlier in the day, Haftar announced that Muslim fasting month Ramadan is a month of 'holy war'.New offensive by Haftar's army in Tripoli is feared to further worsen the situation in the country, which is on the brink of civil war.More than 200 people have lost their lives and 913 have been wounded ever since clashes erupted last month in the region as LNA's army advanced towards Tripoli.Libya has been largely divided into two factions ever since the death of its dictator Muammar Gaddafi.The LNA-backed parliament controls the east of Libya, while the GNA governs Libya's western region from Tripoli.While the US government has primarily backed the GNA which is led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, American ...
Modi praises Naveen for cyclone handling
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for effectively handling cyclone Fani, which hit the coastal districts on May 3.
Cyclone Fani: PM announces Rs 1000 crore more for relief work; praises Naveen Patnaik
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conducted an aerial survey to take stock of the loss and destruction in areas affected by Cyclone Fani in Odisha and announced Rs 1,000 crore more to the state government for conducting relief and restoration work. The amount is in addition to the Rs 381 crore announced previously.The Prime Minister also praised Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his handling of the crisis. "Naveen babu has done a very good job, his planning is excellent.""There has been excellent coordination since the last seven-eight days between the state and central governments. The communication has been perfect. The state government's team was proactive and responsive too. I was also monitoring. The way people of Odisha and fishermen complied with every instruction of government is praiseworthy," Prime Minister Modi said.Meanwhile, the relief assistance of Rs 1000 crore announced by the Prime Minister is in addition to the Rs. 341 crores already released to the state
SC dismisses plea challenging J-K order restricting civilian traffic on national highway
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea challenging the Jammu and Kashmir government's order restricting civilian traffic for a day in a week on a stretch of the national highway from Udhampur to Baramulla for the movement of security forces. Counsel for the Jammu and Kashmir government told the bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Deepak Gupta that the order restricting traffic on the national highway was taken due to the ongoing election and will remain in force till May 31. The bench, after hearing the submissions, said, "We are not inclined to keep this petition pending.
Gaza says truce reached with Israel
After days of escalation, Palestinian officials on Monday announced that a ceasefire has been reached with Israel to end the surge of violence around Gaza and Israel border.Al Jazeera reported that a deal was signed at around 1.30 am and no Israeli raids have been reported since then.Reportedly, Egypt and Qatar have mediated this truce. The deal was reached after Hamas agreed to ease the limits on the fishing zone off the coast of Gaza. Israel also agreed to work on improving the electricity and fuel situation in Gaza.There is no confirmation from the Israeli side so far.This comes as a major relief as lately both sides were engaged in rocket and missile firings which has so far killed 24 Palestinians and four Israeli officers.The Israeli military has claimed that Gaza ruled by Hamas and jihadi elements has fired around 600 rockets and other projectiles in southern Israeli cities, adding that, in retaliation, it has targeted more than 250 targets belonging to Gaza militants.Adding to .
Palestinians say truce reached with Israel to end deadly escalation
- Palestinian leaders in Gaza agreed to a ceasefire with Israel on Monday to end a deadly two-day escalation in violence that threatened to widen into a fourth war between them since 2008. An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to comment on the deal, but there appeared to have been no rocket fire or Israeli strikes in the hours after it was due to take effect, an AFP correspondent in Gaza said. Israel also lifted restrictions on civilian movements in communities around the Gaza border on Monday morning. Egypt brokered the agreement to cease hostilities from 4:30 am (local time), an official from the strip's Islamist rulers Hamas and another from its allied group Islamic Jihad said on condition of anonymity. An Egyptian official also confirmed the deal on condition of anonymity. It came after the most serious flare-up in violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since a 2014 war. The escalation began Saturday with massive rocket fire from Gaza, drawing waves of ...
J-K: Ex-legislator leads protest against 'failure' of govt to provide basic amenities to people
Former legislator Sheikh Abdul Rashid Monday led a protest march here against the alleged "failure" of the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide basic amenities to the people. Rashid, along with the supporters of his Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), assembled near the Magarmal Bagh area of the city and tried to march towards the civil secretariat the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government. The secretariat reopened here on Monday after functioning in winter capital Jammu for six months as part of the nearly 150-year-old practice known in the state as 'Darbar Move'. However, a posse of policemen stopped them from marching towards the secretariat. Speaking to reporters, Rashid said the AIP's protest march was against the "failures" of the government to provide basic amenities to the people and against "state suppression". He also lashed out at the government over the jailing of separatist leaders, including JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik. "Jailing of these leaders would not dampen the ...
Sacked BSF personnel Tej Bahadur moves SC challenging EC's rejection of his nomination
Sacked Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, Tej Bahadur Yadav, on Monday knocked at the doors of the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission's (EC) decision to reject his nomination to contest polls as Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate from the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency.Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for Tej Bahadur, former Head Constable in the BSF, mentioned the matter before the Registrar for urgent hearing who said that he will decide on a date for the same.Tej Bahadur through his plea sought direction to allow him to contest the Lok Sabha Election from the Varanasi seat.The petition sought direction to quash the May 1 order passed by the Returning Officer of the EC rejecting his nomination paper filed on April 29, on the ground of his failure to furnish a certificate [in view of Section 9 & Section 33 (3) of the Representation of the People Act 1951] to the effect that he has not been dismissed for corruption or disloyalty to the state."...decision seems
Kejriwal tried to be 'over smart': Sibal on failed alliance
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal was trying to be "over smart" while trying to forge an alliance with the Congress and this election will show "what his real position is in Delhi", senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal has said.
US deploys carrier strike group to Middle East to warn Iran
Stepping up pressure on Iran, the US has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East to send a "clear and unmistakable" message to Tehran that any attack on American interests or its allies will be met with "unrelenting force". National Security Advisor John Bolton said the decision to deploy the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the US Central Command region in the Middle East was in response to a number of "troubling and escalatory indications and warnings" from Iran. The deployment of the strike group and bomber task force comes after US President Donald Trump last month refused to give waivers to countries like India from buying oil from Iran, in an attempt to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero. After coming to power, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 landmark Iranian nuclear deal last year and has imposed stringent sanctions against what he describes as the "authoritarian" Iranian regime. Under the
Vote intelligently not emotionally: Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Monday urged voters to exercise their franchise in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections "intelligently" rather than using the right "emotionally".
Ex Aussie PM tears into spooks over China suspicions
Australia's outspoken former prime minister Paul Keating has launched an extraordinary attack on the country's tops spies, branding them "nutters" who had gone "berko" over the threat from China. Just weeks before a national election, the opposition Labor Party was on Monday forced to distance itself from its former talisman's comments. Keating -- who was prime minister for five years until 1996 -- told national broadcaster ABC on Sunday that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Secret Intelligence Service had "lost their strategic bearings." "The nutters are in charge," Keating claimed, criticising their suspicions of China. "Whatever you think, China is a great state. It's always been a great state and now has the second-largest economy, soon the largest economy in the world," he said. Australia has long tried to sustain trade relations with China despite profound differences with the country's authoritarian government. But President Xi Jinping's ...
BJP demands repoll in Bengal's Barrackpore constituency
Accusing the ruling TMC in West Bengal of unleashing "violence" on its voters, the BJP Monday demanded a repoll in Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency. Union minister Prakash Javadekar accused Trinamool Congress "goons" of booth-capturing and not letting BJP voters cast their votes by resorting to threats and violence. At a press conference, he also alleged that the Election Commission had not done enough to make the polls free and fair in the state despite the BJP approaching it a number of times. "The TMC wants to win elections by rigging as it cannot win by votes. We demand a repoll in the entire Barrackpore constituency," he said,alleging that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was behind the violence. The BJP candidate from the seat, Arjun Singh, has been badly beaten by TMC workers,Javadekar alleged and added that ruling party workers were accompanying voters in the booth and casting votes at their behest. A scuffle between Arjun Singh and central forces was reported when the former .
Pompeo links Putin-Kim summit with North Korea's weapon tests
North Korea tested missiles and rocket launchers after its leader Kim Jong-un's recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, indicated US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday."The toughest sanctions in the history of North Korea remain in place. That's probably what's putting some of the pressure on Chairman Kim today. You saw this happen too right after his visit to Russia. Right after he spoke with Vladimir Putin, he made the decision to take these actions," Sputnik quoted Pompeo as saying.However, he did not elaborate on his comment.Pompeo's comments appear to be in contrast with US President Donald Trump's reaction over North Korea's action. Trump has reaffirmed his confidence in Kim."Anything in this very interesting world is possible, but I believe that Kim Jong Un fully realizes the great economic potential of North Korea, and will do nothing to interfere or end it. He also knows that I am with him and does not want to break his promise to me. The deal will ...
Tejashwi Yadav terms PM Modi's remark against Rajiv Gandhi as 'atrocious'
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark against former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi as 'atrocious'.Talking to media here, Yadav said, "We have not expected Prime Minister Modi to stoop to such a low level and give such an atrocious statement against a former prime minister."On May 4, attacking Congress president Rahul Gandhi during an election rally in Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi had said, "Your father was termed 'Mr Clean' by his courtiers, but his life ended as 'Bhrashtachari No 1'."The RJD leader also said, "The grand-alliance is winning everywhere in Bihar.""After May 23 there will be a massive loss to Janta Dal (United) and the party's Nitish Kumar will have to resign. There will be tension between BJP and JDU after the Lok Sabha elections results are declared," the RJD leader added.The grand alliance formed by the Oppositions in Bihar includes Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD), Congress, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), ...
Fir ek baar Modi Sarkar: Jayant Sinha, Rajyavardhan Rathore, Vinay Katiyar express confidence, Krishna Poonia says people with Congress
Jayant Sinha, the sitting MP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Hazaribagh parliamentary constituency, on Monday, said that BJP is seeking to cross the 400 seat mark this time in Lok Sabha and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will comfortably form government in the Centre again."We have tried to win over the people with our work and dedication. I urge the people to come out and vote so that we can serve you again for the next five years. We are aiming for 400 plus and it is more than likely to come true, 'Fir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar'," Sinha said while talking to reporters at a polling booth before casting his vote.Vinay Katiyar, former MP and the founder of Bajrang Dal, while echoing the same sentiment, added that Ram Temple will be built soon."The 'mahamilawati' people are trying to create a ruckus, but this will not happen and PM Modi will become the prime minister again. The elections are happening in a free and fair manner. Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will also be built soon,"
Israel lifts restrictions amid ceasefire
The Israeli military said on Monday that it had lifted all protective restrictions, amid a reported ceasefire with militants in Gaza that ended two days of violence.
Political earthquake after LS election results: Tejashwi
Bihar opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday predicted a political earthquake when the results of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls are declared on May 23.
It's battle of prestige for Himachal CM in Mandi
It is a battle of prestige for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) star campaigner and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to retain the Mandi parliamentary seat in Himachal Pradesh.