Page 670 - Politics
Country's economy will be destroyed if PM Modi gets another term: Puducherry CM
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy on Saturday claimed that the country's economy will be destroyed if Narendra Modi gets a second term as the Prime Minister."What have you done in the last five years? You only burdened people with demonetisation, GST and not providing jobs. Businesses and industries have shut down due to demonetisation. He has already destroyed the economy and he wants another term. If he gets another term, then the country's economy will be destroyed," he told ANI here.Continuing his attack on Modi, Narayanaswamy said that the Prime Minister was talking more on Pulwama attack, surgical strike and Pakistan and said he "insulted" the armed forces by taking credit."By taking credit, the Prime Minister has insulted our armed forces. He even criticised Congress on our statement on surgical strikes done during the tenure of UPA government. While our former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not take credit, Narendra Modi is doing the opposite. He should apologise to
Infighting-ridden AAP now a sinking ship in Punjab
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had emerged as a dark horse in Punjab in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, winning four parliamentary seats while its performance in the remaining nine seats left its rivals stumped, but it is a different story this time round.
Shah holds roadshow in Amethi, says choice in UP is between dynasty and development
BJP chief Amit Shah held a roadshow in Amethi, the home turf of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday and said in Uttar Pradesh the choice is between dynasty and development. Shah was accompanied by the party's candidate and Union minister Smriti Irani. Talking to PTI before the roadshow, Shah said, "In Uttar Pradesh, the choice is between dynasty and development. And people will choose development over dynasty." He asserted that the BJP would win the Amethi Lok Sabha seat by one lakh votes. "Our overall seats in Uttar Pradesh will also increase," Shah told PTI. Irani had lost the election to Gandhi in 2014, but was able to substantially reduce his victory margin from more than three lakhs in 2009 to just above one lakh in 2014. The BJP had won 71 seats out of 80 in Uttar Pradesh in 2014, besides two seats bagged by its ally Apna Dal. The roadshow was held on the last day of campaigning for the keenly-watched Amethi Lok Sabha seat, where polling will be held on May 6.
Stood by wife Poonam, done my 'pati dharma': Shatrughan Sinha
Patna Sahib's Congress candidate Shatrughan Sinha Saturday said just as he stood by his wife and rival Samajwadi Party nominee from Lucknow, Poonam Sinha will discharge her 'patni dharma' and accompany him to his constituency later this month. "I have done my pati dharma' (duty as a husband), she will also play her 'patni dharma' once polling in Lucknow is over," the actor-turned-politician known for his one-liners told PTI in an interview. While polling in Lucknow is on May 6, it will take place in Patna Sahib on May 19, the last phase of the elections. Though contesting from a rival party, Shatrughan Sinha was present along with Poonam Sinha when she filed her nomination papers as an SP candidate and held a roadshow in Lucknow. This did not gone down well with Congress candidate Pramod Krishnan, who took strong exception to a leader from his own party canvassing for a rival. Pramod Krishnan tweeted his displeasure after Sinha attended an election meeting here on Thursday with SP ...
BJP will win Amethi Lok Sabha seat, claims Amit Shah
Taking out a roadshow here in support of the party candidate Smriti Irani who is taking on Rahul Gandhi again in the lok Sabha election, BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday claimed that his party will win the Amethi seat."Everyone is hopeful. The massive crowd (in the roadshow) is the evidence that people of Amethi have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP is winning here in this elections," he said while talking to ANI here."Opposition will stop making claims after the result. BJP will form the government with a massive majority," he added.Shah also claimed that for the first time Amethi is feeling that development is possible here as well."Even after making members of Gandhi family their representative for so many years, there were villages which didn't have electricity. They received electricity only after Modi Ji came," the BJP president said.Union Smriti Irani, who accompanied Shah in the vehicle, said "By writing letters (to the electorate) before elections, Rahul ...
Final turnout in fourth phase 65.51 per cent: Election Commission
Final voter turnout in the fourth phase of ongoing Lok Sabha elections held on April 29 stood at 65.51 per cent, according to data released by the Election Commission of India (EC) on Saturday.The voting percentage is 2.46 per cent higher than in 2014. The 2014 Lok Sabha witnessed 63.05 per cent turnout in the fourth phase.The first, second and third phases of the Lok Sabha polls held on April 11, 18 and 23 witnessed a turnout of 69.5 per cent, 69.44 per cent, and 68.4 per cent respectively.A total of 72 seats from nine states including Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir went to polls in the fourth phase.The polling percentage in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections was the highest in West Bengal - around 76.44 per cent till 5 pm, EC had said on Monday.Eight seats of the state went to the polls in the fourth phase. In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the polling percentage for these seats was 83.38 per cent.Jammu and Kashmir recorded the lowest turnout with just 10.5 per cent votes. Polling ...
Hry minister takes veiled dig at Hooda, says people know who 'burnt' state in 2016
In a veiled dig at former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana minister Abhimanyu Saturday alleged people know who "burnt" the state in 2016, an apparent reference to violence which broke out during Jat quota stir in the state. "Ye public hai, sab jaanti hai (people know everything)," Abhimanyu told reporters in Rohtak. The Haryana finance minister was referring to the incidents of violence which broke out during Jat quota stir three years ago when Hooda was the chief minister. Rohtak and Sonipat were the epicentre of the violence which broke out in other parts as well, leaving 30 dead and scores injured. Large scale damage to property, especially in Rohtak, was also caused by the arsonists. The ruling BJP has on numerous occasions blamed Hooda's supporters of being behind the incidents of the violence. Earlier this week, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar while addressing an election meeting in Sonipat parliamentary constituency, had indirectly accused Hooda of "burning" ...
SP going soft on Congress: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday accused the Samajwadi Party of going soft on the Congress, implying a rift in the SP-BSP opposition alliance against the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Addressing a BJP rally here, Modi said while the Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati is attacking the Congress, a Congress leader is sharing the stage with the SP. The apparent reference was to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's presence at a Samajwadi Party meeting in Rae Bareli on Thursday. "The SP is going soft on the Congress, but its alliance partner BSP chief Mayawati is attacking the Congress," he said. Modi said the Congress has been reduced to the status of 'vote katwa' party for cutting the votes of other parties and it will soon witness its downfall. Attempting to draw a wedge in the SP-BSP-RLD alliance, Modi claimed that BSP chief Mayawati has understood that the SP and the Congress are playing a "big game" with her. "Now, this is clear that the SP has derived mileage from ...
Rahul Gandhi's attacks on PM outcome of frustration: BJP
The BJP Saturday termed Congress president Rahul Gandhi's attacks on Prime Minister, outcome of frustration as the party is not only losing elections across the country in a big way but its "so-called bastion Amethi is also crumbling." Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said the remarks by the Congress chief indicate "desperation because the party is seeing not only its fortunes crumble all over India but also seeing its so called bastions in Amethi and Rae bareli crumbling". "Field reports clearly suggests that Rahul Gandhi is losing Amethi by a wide margin and the party, therefore according to the local reports is resorting to unleashing manpower, distribution of liquor and even sizeable number of weapons have been seized from both the constituencies. So certainly a great desperation is visible in the Congress camp as they see even Amethi crumbling in this election," Rao said. "People of the country want Modiji back. Rahul Gandhi knows the reality ...
Surgical strikes took place before Modi government too, says Lt Gen Hooda
Crossed border armed operations against terrorists were carried out even before the current dispensation led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Lieutenant General (Retd) DS Hooda here on Saturday.Talking to media persons, Lt Gen Hooda said: "As has been said by many people and ex-veterans as well that surgical strike or cross border operations have been carried out in the past by the Army too, but I am not aware of the exact date and areas.""But, certainly, cross border operations in the past by the Indian Army across the Line of Control (LoC) have been carried out," said Lt Gen Hooda, who is considered as the chief architect of the 2016 surgical strikes.Earlier in the day, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that no surgical strike was carried out during the previous regimes."Surgical strike happened for the first time on September 29, 2016. There is no record of surgical strikes before this. This information has been given by the Director General, Military Operations in an ..
Dozens of rockets fired at Israel from Gaza, Israel responds
Gaza militants on Saturday fired a barrage of dozens of rockets at Israel, which responded with strikes that killed a Palestinian, officials said, as a fragile ceasefire again faltered. Israel said around 90 rockets were fired from the Palestinian enclave and its air defences intercepted dozens of them. The army said it had targeted two rocket launchers in Gaza with an air strike in response and its tanks had hit a number of military posts used by Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the territory. A Gazan security source said that a series of Israeli strikes hit at least three separate areas of the Gaza Strip and that three "resistance fighters" were wounded. The Gazan health ministry reported one person killed and several wounded. No casualties had been reported on the Israeli side. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was planning to hold consultations with security chiefs, a spokesman said. The escalation follows the most violent clashes along the Gaza border in weeks on .
CM wants to appoint pro-tem Speaker to disqualify Rane: Cong
Congress Saturday accused Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of trying to appoint a pliant pro-tem (temporary) Assembly Speaker who would disqualify his rival Vishwajit Rane. Sawant's office denied that any such move was afoot. Addressing a press conference, Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar claimed that the chief minister had begun the process to appoint a pro-tem Speaker even though deputy Speaker Michael Lobo is functioning as acting Speaker. Sawant wants some pliant BJP MLA to be elected as a pro-tem Speaker who would then disqualify Vishwajit Rane, Sawant's rival in the BJP, he said. Appointment of a pro-tem Speaker in this way will be unconstitutional, he said. Sawant, who was the Speaker until March, stepped down from the post when he became chief minister following Manohar Parrikar's death. The new Speaker will be appointed during the monsoon session of the legislature. Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar has filed a petition seeking to disqualify Rane as MLA. Rane ...
Cong assessment shows BJP will lose; see a scared PM unable to face opposition onsluaght: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his party's internal assessment after four phases of polling shows that the BJP will lose in the Lok Sabha elections and he sees a "scared prime minister" unable to face the onslaught of the opposition. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, he stated that it was said five years ago that Modi cannot be defeated and will rule for 10-15 years, but the Congress has "demolished" him. "The structure that is standing is hollow. It is going to fall in 10-15 days," Gandhi, who was flanked by senior Congress leaders P Chidambaram, Ahmed Patel, Anand Sharma and Randeep Surjewala, said. With more than half the election process completed, there is a clear cut feeling that PM Modi is losing, Gandhi claimed. "There is an undercurrent and the BJP is losing. I don't see a strategic campaign by the BJP...I see a scared prime minister unable to face the onslaught of the opposition and a PM who is absolutely convinced in his mind ...
No negative impact of move against Azhar: Pak US envoy
Pakistan Ambassador to the US Asad Majeed Khan has said that there will be no negative repercussions of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar's designation as it only "reinforces" Islamabad's commitment with the international community to fight terrorism.
US, S Korea to 'prudently' deal with N Korea's latest missile launch
The United States and South Korea have agreed to "prudently" deal with North Korea's launch of a short-range missile on Saturday, according to the South Korean foreign ministry.South Korea also alleged that the missile launch breached inter-Korean military accords which were signed between the two states last year, according to Yonhap News Agency."Regarding today's launch, the two sides agreed to prudently deal with it and continue to communicate while continuing additional analysis (of the launch)," the ministry said.The statement comes after the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held talks via phone, hours after the North Korean launch on Saturday.Kang also spoke with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono over the phone with regard to Pyongyang's latest move and vowed to respond "with discretion".The unidentified short-range missile was launched in the eastern direction from the east coast town of Wonsan in North Korea, according to ..
BJP bribing people in Amethi, says Priyanka
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of giving Rs 20,000 bribes to people in Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
Rupani mocks Cong over claim of six surgical strikes
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Saturday accused the Congress of doing a U-turn on the issue of surgical strikes, saying the party which earlier sought proof from the Modi government, was now claiming that six such operations were carried out during the UPA rule. He claimed that people came to know about the phrase 'surgical strike' thanks to the Modi government. The chief minister also said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have become the butt of jokes on social media. "Congress, which was seeking a proof of air strike and surgical strike, had to say yesterday that it had conducted surgical strike six times. It means looking at the mood, enthusiasm and patriotism of people, you have made a U-turn. You would ask for proof earlier, but now you accept that it has happened. Now you say we (UPA) also conducted it," Rupani told reporters in Gandhinagar. "It means you have quietly accepted that there was a surgical strike (under the
PM Modi calls Congress 'vote cutter' party
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, calling it a "vote cutter" party. He also accused Congress and SP of "betraying" BSP supremo Mayawati for their personal gains."Congress leaders are happily sharing the stage with SP in rallies. These people have betrayed Behenji (Mayawati) so cunningly that even she is not able to comprehend. The party which was staking claim to prime ministerial post before the first round of voting, now admits to being a vote cutter," he said at a public rally here."These people made an alliance just to benefit themselves. They took advantage of Mayawati by showing her dreams of becoming the prime minister. But instead, Congress and SP kept her in the dark," he added.Raking up the alleged links of Congress president Rahul Gandhi with Scorpene deal, Modi said: "Today I read that during UPA's tenure, one of naamdar's (dynast) business partners got defence offset contracts. Apni sarkar, dost bhi apna, aur raksha sauda
Social activist jumps in fray from Amritsar, says undeterred by competition
Independent candidate and social activist Shamlal 'Gandhiwadi', who is in fray along with senior leaders of the BJP and the Congress from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, has said parties no longer talk about "real issues" concerning common people and if elected, he will become the voice of masses. 'Gandhiwadi', 36, is pitted against 30 candidates from Amritsar, including Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri of the BJP and Congress' sitting MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla. He had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar in 2009 and 2014. He has also unsuccessfully fought the Amritsar civic polls twice and even the Punjab assembly election. However, despite not tasting electoral success, he is not willing to give up. The social activist said he knows one day he will achieve success and bring a change. 'Gandhiwadi' said he is not deterred by competition and instead derives strength from Mahatma Gandhi's ideals which he propagates while campaigning. "Nobody talks about real issues these ...
Azhar's 'global terrorist' listing impact Pak-US relation: Pak envoy
Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar being placed on United Nations terror list will not have any impact on Pakistan and United States relations, asserted Pakistan's ambassador to the United States Asad Majeed Khan on Saturday."We want good relations with the US. We are keen to have a strong partnership," Majeed said quoting Duniya news.On Wednesday, the UN designated Azhar as a 'global terrorist' after China lifted its technical hold on a proposal floated by US, UK and France in the UNSC following the Pulwama terror attack."Those steps are not to make anyone happy but it is for our own need. It will not have any impact on US-Pakistan relations," he asserted.In a major diplomatic breakthrough for India, the United Nations on Wednesday added Azhar to the United Nations 1267 ISIL and al-Qaeda Sanctions List.After putting technical holds for 10 years, China on Wednesday supported the draft resolution put forward by P3 Nations - United States, France and the United Kingdom.The United ...