Page 66 - Politics

Posturing to maintain balance on Congress' seesaw in Chhattisgarh

T S Singh Deo reminds central party of its promise to make him CM for half the government's term. But Bhupesh Baghel deflects it. R Krishna Das on the political rumblings

Rebellions in Congress: Sachin Pilot continues tirade against Gehlot regime

Sachin Pilot has sought accountability from a government led by his own party to explain inaction against corruption charges against the BJP. But there could be more here than meets the eye

LIVE: UP CM takes cognizance of Prayagraj case, calls high-level meeting

Catch live updates from across the globe here

Congress President Kharge dials Kejriwal, calls for Opposition unity

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge telephoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, a day after the AAP convenor was summoned by the CBI, and stressed the need for opposition parties to unite against the BJP ahead of the 2024 general elections, sources said. Kharge is learnt to have expressed solidarity with Kejriwal, who will appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning in the Delhi excise policy case on Sunday, they said. The CBI on Friday summoned Kejriwal to answer queries of the investigating team as a witness in the excise policy case. His former deputy Manish Sisodia was arrested in the case last month. Kharge's outreach is part of the Congress' efforts to bring several like-minded parties together on a common platform in their fight against the BJP. The Congress president will be hosting a meeting of senior leaders of various parties in the next few days to chalk out a common programme. Kharge has already spoken to a number of ...

Kejriwal threatens to sue CBI, ED for perjury, filing of false affidavits

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said he will sue the CBI and ED officials for alleged perjury and filing false affidavits in courts. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned the AAP leader in connection with the case on Sunday. He has been asked to be present at the agency headquarters at 11 am to answer queries of the investigating team, officials said. The central probe agency has already arrested former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the case. Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal accused the central probe agencies of filing false affidavits in courts. "We will file appropriate cases against CBI and ED officials for perjury and producing false evidence in courts," he tweeted. Earlier, the chief minister said the Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its charge sheet, had said that former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia destroyed 14 phones and IMEI numbers of these phones were are also included in the documents. "T

Police to deploy heavy security outside CBI office for Kejriwal's visit

Delhi Police will deploy over 1,000 security personnel, including paramilitary forces, outside the CBI headquarters to ensure the safety of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, summoned by the agency on Sunday in connection with alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped excise policy, officials said. Security will also be tightened outside the Aam Aadmi Party office in Rouse Avenue, they said. An adequate number of barricades will also be placed on the streets at both these places to ensure AAP workers and supporters do not create any trouble, a senior police official said. "We have set up an elaborate security arrangement and since he is a chief minister, definitely there will tight security for his safety. More than 1,000 security personnel including paramilitary forces would be deployed outside the CBI headquarters to ensure no untoward incident takes place," the official said. The Central Bureau of Investigation has summoned Kejriwal at its office at 11 am to answer questions of th

Amit Shah's Sunday rally to kickstart BJP's 2024 LS poll campaign in Goa

Union Minister Amit Shah's rally on Sunday in Ponda will kickstart the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign in Goa for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, a senior party functionary said. Shah will arrive in the state at 3:30pm on Sunday, chair a meeting with party functionaries to discuss organisational issues, and then address a public gathering in Farmagudi town, some 30 kilometres from Panaji, Goa BJP general secretary Narendra Sawaikar said. "We are expecting more than 25,000 people to attend the rally. Allies will also take part. This meeting will kickstart the BJP's Lok Sabha campaign in Goa," he said. Sawaikar exuded confidence the BJP would win both Lok Sabha seats in Goa. Incidentally, Sawaikar had lost from the South Goa Lok Sabha seat to Congress' Francisco Sardinha in the 2019 polls.

Denying me ticket will cost 20-25 seats in Karnataka: BJP's Shettar

In a rebellious tone, former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who was asked by the BJP high command to drop his candidature for the Assembly election from Hubli-Dharwad Central segment, has said denying him a ticket will have a bearing on at least 20 to 25 seats in the state. Addressing reporters here, the senior BJP leader said he would wait for the party's decision on the ticket till Sunday to decide his next course of action. The BJP has not yet released the list of candidates for 12 constituencies, including Hubli-Dharwad Central. "I will wait till tomorrow and then I will decide my next course of action," Shettar told reporters here on Friday night. When questioned about the impact on the BJP for treating senior party functionaries in such a manner, he said the ruling dispensation has to think about it. "The party has to ensure that it should not have any negative impact. Even former CM B S Yediyurappa has said that if Shettar does not get a ticket, then it will hav

Non-disclosure of cases in poll affidavit: Fadnavis appears before court

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday appeared before a court here in connection with an application seeking action against him for alleged non-disclosure of criminal cases in his election affidavit in 2014. Fadnavis's statement would be recorded by Civil Judge V A Deshmukh after which the court will hear final arguments in the matter. Satish Uke, an advocate, had filed the application seeking criminal proceedings against Fadnavis alleging that cases of cheating and forgery had been registered against the BJP leader in 1996 and 1998 but he did not disclose this information in his poll affidavit ahead of the 2014 assembly elections. Uke is presently in jail after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on charges of money laundering.

BJP running a gang, says Sanjay Raut on CBI summoning Arvind Kejriwal

"Is this a government? They are running a gang," Raut said

Central agencies lying to courts: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on CBI summons

"Central agencies are lying to courts against us in the liquor policy probe. Arrested people are being tortured, pressure is being created on them to nail us"

AAP 'ray of hope' for people, efforts being made to trample it: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the AAP has emerged as a ray of hope for the country and that is the reason why efforts are being made to trample it. In his first reaction after being served a notice by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appear before it in connection with the excise policy case, Kejriwal said he will appear before the agency on Sunday. Addressing a press conference here, he said no other party has been targeted in the last 75 years as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). "... That is because the AAP has given hope to people that it would eradicate poverty and make them educated. They want to trample this hope by targeting us," he said. The AAP supremo underlined that the excise policy, which is the centre of attention, is an excellent policy and is doing well in Punjab where the party is in power. Accusing the CBI and the ED of filing false affidavits, he said they are alleging that his former deputy Manish Sisodia destroyed 14 phones, but t

Delhi excise policy case: BJP dares Kejriwal to take lie detector test

The BJP on Saturday claimed that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was trembling in fear following the CBI summon to him in the excise policy case, and said he should take a lie detector test if he had nothing to be afraid of. Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader for attacking the central government over the summons and said it was not the time for rhetoric but accountability. Noting Kejriwal's past attacks on politicians cutting across parties over the issue of corruption, Bhatia said the AAP supremo should submit himself for the lie detector test to make things clear. He alleged that Kejriwal is the "kingpin" in the 'liquor scam' case in which the latter's confidant and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is behind the bars. Bhatia asked Kejriwal several questions and wondered if he was not accountable for the proceedings of the February, 2021 meeting of the Delhi Cabinet in which the scam

BJP wants 'Opposition-free' India: Kapil Sibal on CBI summoning Kejriwal

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday hit out at the BJP over the CBI summoning Delhi Chief Minister Arvind, alleging that the ruling party wants to establish an "Opposition-free India" and is seeking to "malign" the image of leaders who stand up against it. Sibal urged all Opposition parties to speak up in one voice against this "misuse" of probe agencies and asserted that it will be difficult to take on the BJP until all such parties stand together. "They (the BJP) want an Opposition-free India and are targeting all Opposition leaders. We've seen how they have targeted Opposition chief ministers of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and other leaders," he said in a statement. Sibal also alleged that the BJP has misused provisions of the Tenth Schedule to topple elected governments. The BJP wants to "malign" the image of Opposition leaders and is "misusing" the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate for it, he alleged. That is why the ruling party knows how many seats they will get in

Amit Shah to address party workers in Bharatpur in poll-bound Rajasthan

Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address booth workers of Rajasthan's Bharatpur division where the party had faced a crushing defeat in the 2018 assembly elections. BJP booth workers and presidents of all four districts under the Bharatpur division -- Bharatpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur and Dholpur -- are expected to attend the meeting to be held at Bharatpur college ground. More than 25,000 workers of 4,700 booths of the division will be a part of the programme, party sources said. The division, in eastern Rajasthan, has a total of 19 assembly constituencies and the saffron party could only win one seat in Dholpur in the last assembly polls. Sixteen seats were won by the Congress, one by the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and one by an independent candidate. Both the RLD and the independent MLA support the Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot in the state. In the 2013 assembly elections, when the Vasundhara Raje government came to power, the Bharatiya Janata P

Persecution on course: Sibal hits at BJP over CBI summoning Kejriwal

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday hit out at the BJP-led Centre over the CBI summoning Delhi Chief Minister Arvind, alleging that "persecution" was on course. The CBI on Friday summoned Kejriwal to appear before it on April 16 in connection with the excise policy scam case in which his former deputy Manish Sisodia was arrested last month. Reacting to the development, Sibal said on Twitter, "CBI summons Kejriwal, BJP says: Law on course. My take: Persecution on course!" Sibal, who was a Union minister during UPA 1 and 2, quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party's support. He recently floated the non-electoral platform 'Insaaf', aimed at fighting injustice. According to the notice issued by the CBI, Kejriwal has been called to appear at the agency headquarters at 11 am on Sunday to answer queries of the investigating team as a witness in the case, officials said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called it

Kejriwal only one speaking against corruption, voice being stifled: Atishi

AAP senior leader and Delhi Cabinet minister Atishi on Saturday said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is the only leader raising voice against corruption, which is why efforts are being made to stifle his voice. Addressing a press conference here, she said several cases have been slapped against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, but investigating agencies have not been able to prove corruption against them. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Kejriwal on Sunday for questioning in the excise policy case. "Have the agencies found black money during their raids at his residence or anyone else? No. Kejriwal is the only leader talking about the issue of corruption. They want to stifle his voice. But they won't be able to do so," she said.

Six Aam Aadmi Party corporators join BJP in Surat, marking 10 exits

Earlier, four Aam Aadmi Party councillors Rita Khaini, Jyoti Lathia, Bhavna Solanki and Vipul Movaliya joined the BJP

Chhattisgarh: Notices issued to 8 BJP functionaries for 'hateful' posts

The Chhattisgarh police has issued notices to eight Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionaries in the Congress-ruled state for allegedly posting hateful content on social media, and asked them to appear before it, an official said. The notices were issued on Friday, he said. "In the notices, these BJP functionaries have been asked to appear before the police and present factual statements related to such posts," Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal said on Friday. The eight functionaries comprise BJP spokesperson Sanjay Shrivastava, IT cell in-charge of BJP Chhattisgarh's Twitter handle Sunil Pillai, treasurer Nandan Jain, BJP trade cell president Kedarnath Gupta, BJP Yuva Morcha Mandal president Yogi Sahu, divisional Yuva Morcha coordinator Kamal Sharma, DD Nagar BJP Yuva Morcha member Shubhankar and party worker Bittu Panigrahi. The Congress had, on April 12, filed a complaint with the Raipur police claiming that their social media posts were spreading hate. A

Arrest of BJP leaders in Jamshedpur 'politically motivated': Arjun Munda

Union minister Arjun Munda on Friday claimed the arrest of BJP leaders in connection with the recent violence in Jamshedpur was "politically motivated", while accusing the local administration of turning a "small incident into an unpleasant one". Munda, the tribal affairs minister, during the day visited the Ghaghidih Central Jail here and met BJP leaders Abhay Singh, former East Singhbhum district president and Sudhansu Ojha, vice-president of the district committee. The arrest of BJP leaders and workers is politically motivated. We strongly condemn such incidents, but the approach of the administration should have been impartial and not under any pressure, Munda told reporters. There are several people among the arrested, who had nothing to do with the incident, and were still apprehended from various places under political pressure, he alleged. A total of 70 people, including two BJP leaders, have been arrested in connection with the violence over alleged desecration of a religi