Page 659 - Politics
Can dynastic families benefit Haryana? asks Shah
BJP chief Amit Shah claimed on Sunday that people have rejected the "politics" of dynasty and corruption, which he said prevailed during the previous Hooda and Chautala governments in Haryana. Addressing a rally in Sonipat, Shah said Congress president Rahul Gandhi's ambition of becoming the prime minister would not be fulfilled. "Rahul baba, your number won't come to become the PM," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief said, adding that people had made up their minds to bring back the Modi government. "I want to ask the leader of the Congress that proofs have been found that you have flats in foreign countries and are a director in foreign companies," Shah said, without taking any name. "Besides, there are charges against you of holding a foreign citizenship, bank accounts of many leaders abroad have been found." Shah underlined that Narendra Modi's image was "clean" and nobody had been able to point any finger at him after remaining Gujarat chief minister and prime minister for 14
J-K guv orders probe into political activists' killings, parties train gun on chief secy
The killing of a BJP leader in south Kashmir has sparked off a controversy with Governor Satya Pal Malik Sunday ordering an inquiry headed by state chief secretary B V R Subrahmanyam to "identify lapses" while political parties accusing the top bureaucrat of creating a chaotic situation by withdrawing security of political activists. Condoling the death of Gul Mohammed Mir, 57, the BJP leader who unsuccessfully contested on the party ticket in 2008 and 2014 assembly elections from Dooru in South Kashmir, Malik asked the chief secretary to identify any lapses on part of the security agencies in ensuring security of political activists, an official spokesman said. The governor has called for an emergency meeting on Monday, when government offices will reopen in summer capital of Srinagar after the bi-annual 'Darbar move', during which he will review the safety and security aspects of all political leaders and sarpanches in the state, he said. Malik directed the chief secretary to get an
Russia vows to continue relations with Iran despite US' sanctions
Russia on Sunday pledged to continue its bilateral relations with Iran, saying "no threat" of new sanctions by the US can stop their "legitimate and mutually beneficial cooperation"."We have been living under US anti-Russia sanctions since 2012. It is clear that over this period there has been a serious adaptation to this illegal trick by the United States," Tasmin News Agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying."No threat of new sanctions will stop our legitimate and mutually beneficial cooperation with Iran," he added.Ryabkov said Russia will expand its cooperation in the atomic energy sector.Asserting that Moscow will not "succumb" to "blackmail" by Washington, "We will systematically expand and develop our cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, including in the atomic energy sector in full compliance with international law and the national legislation of our countries, regardless of what US colleagues are undertaking, realizing, as they believe,
Committed to bringing triple talaq for 'Muslim sisters': PM Modi in Bhadohi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that his government was committed to bringing in law against instant triple talaq in favour of "Muslim sisters" as per their sentiments and accused the Opposition of creating hurdles in the way."There are so many Islamic countries where there is no provision of triple talaq. Girls are not devastated in the name of triple talaq there. We also want to give Muslim sisters the same rights as in other countries," Modi said at a rally in Bhadohi, a district with a considerable number of Muslim voters."We have introduced a provision to the same effect in the Parliament according to their (Muslims) sentiments and institutions. We do not disrespect religious sentiments of anyone, we act according to the constitution which ensures equal rights for all," PM Modi said.The Prime Minister alleged that Opposition parties were not letting the law pass in the Parliament."Congress and its allies are forcing the sisters to live in fear of triple talaq. They ...
850 Indians freed from Saudi jails on my request: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that it was on his request that Saudi Arabia released 850 Indians lodged in its jails on the eve of the month of Ramadan.
Fate of 134 candidates to be decided in 12 LS seats of Rajasthan on Monday
Two former Olympians, one former IAS and one former IPS officer, and two seers are among the 134 candidates whose fate will be decided by voters in Rajasthan's 12 Lok Sabha seats that will go to the polls on Monday. Of the 12 seats where polling will take place from 7 am to 6 pm, Jaipur Rural, Bikaner, Dausa and Alwar are some of the keenly-watched constituencies. Former Olympians Rajyawardhan Rathore and Krishna Poonia have locked horns in the Jaipur Rural seat, where sitting MP Rathore is banking on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi factor. The BJP nominee has underlined national security as a key issue during campaigning, whereas Congress MLA Poonia has questioned the works done by Rathore in the constituency in her campaign. The seat, which former Army officer Rathore had won with a margin of 3.32 lakh votes in 2014, is dominated by Jats. Thus, the caste equation is favourable for Poonia, who hails from the community. In Bikaner, Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ...
PM Modi repeat offender of MCC, deserves multiple gag order: Anand Sharma
Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a 'repeat offender' of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and he deserves 'multiple gag orders.'"Prime Minister is proved to be a repeat offender of MCC and rules for which he deserves not clean chit but multiple gag orders," said Sharma.He also attacked Election Commission (EC) saying, the EC is giving clean chits to PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, thus is not fulfilling its constitutional mandate and duty."It is very sad that they are provided clean chits, EC has a constitutional mandate and duty to ensure free and fair elections. It cannot make any exception in case of Prime Minister and keep on giving him and Amit Shah clean chit," said Sharma.The Election Commission gave third clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. The EC ruled that there was no violation of the MCC in his Barmer speech where he had said India is no longer afraid of Pakistan's nuclear threats.With this, the
Turkey to buy Russian missiles despite US 'threats'
Turkey on Sunday dismissed US threats of sanctions if it went ahead with a Russian missile purchase, saying it would not renege on a pledge to Moscow. Washington has warned its NATO ally for months that Ankara's adoption of Russian S-400 missile technology alongside US F-35 fighters would pose a threat to the jets and endanger Western defence. The US has said it will halt a joint F-35 programme with Turkey if it acquires the Russian missile defence system. A US law furthermore provides for sanctions on any country concluding arms deals with Russian companies. "The US threats of sanctions shows that they don't know Turkey," Vice President Fuat Oktay told Kanal 7 television. "The decision on the S-400 has been taken. Once a pact has been signed, one's word given, Turkey respects it," he said. The S-400 purchase is one dispute fuelling tensions between two nations also at odds over US support for Syrian Kurdish militias which Ankara brands as terrorists and Turkish backing for US foe ...
Raja Bhaiyya to be put under house arrest
Independent MLA and former Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh aka Raja Bhaiyya will be put under house arrest on Monday when polling takes place in Kunda which comes under the Kaushambhi Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh.
Afghanistan summons Pak deputy ambassador 'for violating airspace'
Afghan on Saturday summoned Pakistan's deputy ambassador to Afghanistan to condemn recent "violation" of Kabul airspace by Pakistan Army and for "launching rockets" that caused casualties."Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan summoned the Charge d'affaires of the Pakistani embassy in Kabul and condemned the attack on the two countries' soldiers," Khamma Press quoted a spokesperson of Afghan's Foreign military as saying."Explaining the immediate measures of Afghanistan's Security Forces against antigovernment elements active on both sides of the Durand line, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afganistan also condemned Pakistani forces' violation of Afghanistan Airspace and launching rockets that caused material and bodily harm," he addedThis comes days after the Afghanistan army announced that four officials were killed and five others suffered injuries.The official also claimed that many houses have also been damaged.
PMO made attempts to connect Modi to WB CM over phone post Fani: Sources
The Prime Minister's Office had made attempts to contact West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about the post-Fani situation in the state, according to government sources.Reacting to reports in a section of media that TMC has expressed its displeasure over Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking only to West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi to inquire about the cyclone aftermath, the PMO sources said that the claim is incorrect.According to TMC, the Prime Minister had talked to Tripathi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik but "did not call up" Banerjee.The sources said that two attempts were made by the PM's staff to connect the Prime Minister to Banerjee on telephone."The claim made by TMC is incorrect. Two attempts were made on Saturday morning from the Prime Minister's staff to connect the Prime Minister to the West Bengal Chief Minister on phone," the sources told ANI.They said that on both occasions, PMO staff was told by Banerjee's office that the Chief Minister was
Not true PM phoned only Patnaik post 'Fani', not Mamata: Source
A senior source in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Sunday refuted media reports as incorrect that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had only called Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take stock of the state's situation post-cyclone 'Fani, but did not telephone Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Tarigami condemns killing of BJP leader
Senior CPI(M) leader and former legislator Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami Sunday condemned the killing of a BJP activist in South Kashmir's Anantnag district, saying violence has no place in a civilised society. BJP district vice president Gul Mohammad Mir was shot dead by unidentified militants in the Nowgam Verinag area of Anantnag Saturday night. "There is no justification to kill anybody and violence has no place in any civilised society. We condemn this killing in strongest words and express deep sympathy with the bereaved family," Tarigami said here. The former MLA from Kulgam assembly segment of south Kashmir said the security of the slain BJP activist, like hundreds of other political activists, was withdrawn due to which he became a soft target for the assailants. "Political process in violence-hit Kashmir is itself a difficult task and the activists cutting across political lines are risking their lives and doing their bit to strengthen peace. However, instead of protecting them, .
Clash of titans on cards in fifth phase polling in UP
The fifth phase of polling in 14 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh Monday will see a clash of titans including Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The BJP had bagged 12 of these seats in 2014 with the Congress winning Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli and Rahul Gandhi's Amethi -- the only two constituencies where the Congress succeeded out of the 80 in the entire state. Around 2.47 crore people are eligible to vote in Dhaurahra, Sitapur, Mohanlalganj (SC), Lucknow, Banda, Fatehpur, Kaushambi (SC), Barabanki (SC), Faizabad, Bahraich (SC), Kaiserganj and Gonda constituencies where 182 candidates are in the contest. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is contesting on five seats - Dhaurahra, Sitapur, Mohanlalganj, Fatehpur and Kaisarganj. Its ally Samajwadi Party (SP) is fighting for seven seats -Lucknow, Banda, Kaushambi, Barabanki, Faizabad, Bahraich and Gonda. In Amethi and Rae Bareli, the SP-BSP alliance has not put up ..
Polarisation among most backward castes, Dalits, Muslims in favour of Oppn alliance: Sharad Yadav
Expressing confidence that the opposition alliance will decimate the ruling NDA in Bihar, senior leader Sharad Yadav claimed Sunday that the Modi government is on its way out due to the BJP's poor show in Hindi heartland states such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Yadav, who is contesting the Lok Sabha poll from Madhepura in Bihar as an RJD candidate, asserted that a polarisation of most of the backward castes, Dalits and Muslims has taken place in favour of the opposition alliance in the state. The alliance of the Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD, Congress and Upendra Kushwaha's RLSP among others will clinch as many seats as the NDA had in 2014, Sharad Yadav told PTI in an interview, asserting that there is anger among the poor due to agrarian distress. The NDA had won 31 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 in Bihar, while the opposition alliance had got nine. Yadav dismissed the claims of top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that the NDA is set to retain power at the Centre. He .
Mrs. Bahubalis of Bihar: Dummy candidates or trying to get out of their husband's shadows?
Hina Shahab, Kavita Singh and Neelam Singh are charting their way through the very masculine Bihar political-scape of Election 2019 but the big question is did their parties choose them as dummy candidates for their muscle-flexing husbands? Shahab, the Rashtriya Janata Dal's contestant in Siwan, is the wife of four-term (1996 to 2004) MP Shahabuddin, convicted in multiple murder cases and debarred from contesting any election. Her opponent in Siwan, which votes on May 12, is Kavita Singh, a two-time MLA who is the Janata Dal(United) candidate and the wife of local muscleman Ajay Singh. He has been denied a ticket because of the many criminal cases against him. The third in the lineup is Neelam Singh who is making her electoral debut as the Congress' contestant from the Munger Lok Sabha seat. Her husband Anant Singh faces at least 18 cases, including of murder, kidnapping and extortion. Shahab is banking on her connect with the locals in the absence of her husband while Kavita Singh ..
Venezuela: Overestimated military support for uprising, says Guaido
Acknowledging errors made during the recent coup attempt to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, National Assembly head Juan Guaido conceded that the opposition had miscalculated military support for the failed uprising."We are confronting a wall that is an absolute dictatorship...We have recognised our mistakes - what we didn't do, and (what) we did too much of," Guaido told The Washington Post in an exclusive interview.This comes amidst mounting civil and political unrest in the Latin American country. On April 30, opposition leader Guaido declared he was "beginning the final phase of Operation Freedom," in an apparent bid to oust Maduro. In the clashes that ensued between anti-government protesters and law enforcement forces in Caracas, at least 71 people were injured."Because the fact that we did what we did and it didn't succeed on the first time, doesn't mean it's not valid," he said, adding that the Opposition was seeking to get through to military personnel loyal to .
Rahul slams Modi for calling Rajiv Gandhi corrupt
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Rajiv Gandhi a "corrupt" politician, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday criticized him for attacking his father and former Prime Minister who sacrificed his life for the country.
Jharkhand 2nd phase polls to be held under tight security
The second phase of polling in Jharkhand will take place in Maoist-affected areas amid tight security.
Let's make a Brexit deal, UK PM May tells Labour opposition
British Prime Minister Theresa May says her Conservative government and the opposition Labour Party have a duty to strike a compromise Brexit agreement to end months of political deadlock over Britain's exit from the European Union. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, May told Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn: "Let's do a deal." She said a cross-party compromise was not her first choice, but "we have to find a way to break the deadlock." The Conservatives are desperate to move forward after losing hundreds of positions in last week's local elections. Labour also suffered losses as voters punished both main parties for the Brexit impasse. But the prospect of the government compromising and accepting Labour's demand for close economic ties with the EU has infuriated pro-Brexit Conservatives, who are demanding May's resignation.