Page 675 - Politics
UN says nearly 400 killed by Libya fighting, 50,000 displaced
At least 392 people have been killed and 1,936 wounded since strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive against the Libyan capital last month, the UN's World Health Organisation said Friday. More than 50,000 have meanwhile been displaced as a direct result "of the intensifying armed conflict in Tripoli", according to another UN body, the Organisation for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "We are concerned about the alarming figures of displacement," OCHA said on Friday on Twitter. Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) began its offensive against the Tripoli based Government of National Accord (GNA) on April 4. Forces loyal to the internationally recognised GNA have since launched a counter-offensive, leading to a stalemate on the ground on the southern outskirts of the capital. Othman Abdel Jalil, the GNA's education minister and the head of the government's crisis committee, on Thursday said 55,000 people -- some 11,000 families -- had been displaced. Jalil said
Focus on your party, Gambhir tells Kejriwal
Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir, who is contesting from East Delhi Lok Sabha seat on Friday suggested AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal to not speculate on his future plans and better concentrate on his party.
MGP files petition against two former MLAs
Former deputy Chief Minister and lone MGP MLA Sudin Dhavalikar on Friday filed a petition before the acting Speaker of the Goa state legislative assembly seeking disqualification of two former party MLAs, who split from the regional party and joined the BJP on March 27.
India's pride rose under PM Modi, says Swaraj
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday said that India's pride has risen in the global scenario during the last five years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Khashoggi's fiance to visit US in mid-May, plans to renew quest for justice
Hatice Cengiz, widow of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has renewed her quest to seek answers for the alleged murder of her partner as she plans to visit the United States in mid-May."I am not a politician, but I can talk about what is moral," Cengiz told The New York Times."I don't know if I can change the mind of a president," she added.Unclear whether an earlier invitation from the White House is still open, Cengiz is hoping to meet members of Congress, if not Trump himself.Last year, US President Donald Trump had made it clear that Washington will not change relations with Saudi Arabia against rising condemnation of Saudi Arabia and vowed support for Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud, who has been linked to the disappearance and possible murder of the former journalist inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey last October.Cengiz said, "I am not a politician, but I can talk about what is moral," adding, "I don't know if I can change the mind of a president."The body of Khashoggi, a ..
EC notice to minister Mahesh Sharma for remarks against Rahul, Priyanka
Union minister Mahesh Sharma was Friday issued a show-cause notice by the Election Commission for allegedly referring to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as "pappu" and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as "pappu ki pappi". While giving the BJP MP 24 hours to respond, the commission reminded him of a provision in the Model Code of Conduct which states that politicians must refrain from making remarks on private lives of rivals. A portion of the remark was reproduced in the notice. Sharma had allegedly said on March 19 in Sikandrabad, "Now that Pappu says that he wants to be the prime minister. Now, Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav and Pappu ki pappi have also come...whether that Priyanka was not the daughter of of the country ... what new has she brought..." The Congress had moved the Election Commission with a complaint against Sharma.
Congress' 'shehzadi' sowing poison in children's heart: Yogi Adityanath slams Priyanka Gandhi over viral video
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday hit out at Congress general secretary for UP, Priyanka Gandhi, over a video in which children were seen using objectionable language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Terming Priyanka Gandhi as "shehzadi", the UP CM claimed, "I was seeing a video of the Congress' "shehzadi" (princess) which went viral. At an age, when kids should be taught about 'cultures', she is sowing poison in their hearts. She is teaching them to abuse. This is the reality of the Congress party""Shehzadi is roaming around to show that she is a well-wisher. When there is flood and drought, then they do not remember India. At that time, they go to Italy. When elections are around, they begin to tour to show that they are the biggest well-wishers," he said addressing an election rally here.The chief minister also boasted about dealing with criminals with a heavy hand."We made it clear that criminals will either be in jail or they will be on their way to "Ram .
EC gives clean chit to PM Modi, Amit Shah
The Election Commission on Friday issued clean chits to Prime Minister Modi stating that it found no poll code violations in two speeches by the Prime Minister at Nanded and Varanasi.The EC also gave clean chit to BJP president Amit Shah for his speech delivered at Nagpur.The poll watchdog's order came on the complaint filed by the Congress, which alleged that PM had violated the poll code in his public speech in Nanded on April 6 and in another speech he had given at Varanasi on April 25."The matter has been examined in detail in accordance with the extant advisories, provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and the commission is of the considered view that no such violation of the extant advisories/provisions is attracted" the EC said.The EC also accepted the request made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi seeking an extension to reply to the notice issued by the commission for his impugned statement while addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh on April 2.The commission has now given ..
EC cautions KCR for communal remarks
The Election Commission Friday "cautioned" Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for his communal remarks and asked him to be more careful in the future. In an order issued Friday, the EC said, it is of the view that by delivering such speeches, Rao has violated the provisions of model code, which specifies that no political party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences, or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities. The Commission had on April 10 issued him a show cause notice, finding him prima facie guilty of passing derogatory remarks against Hindus while addressing an election rally in Karimnagar in March. VHP state president M Rama Raju had filed a complaint claiming that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief "tried to secure votes by passing derogatory remarks against Hindus while addressing the election rally at Karimnagar on March 17".
T'gana Cong writes to EC over 'significant' rise in final poll percentage
The Congress Friday wrote to the Election Commission over a "significant" increase in the total polling percentage in Telangana announced at 5 pm on April 11 and the final figure declared the next day. A Congress delegation submitted a letter to the poll body and urged it to furnish documents such as copies of reports from Returning Officers about the polling. "The polling in the Lok Sabha elections on April 11 witnessed almost a similar increase of 5.26 per cent from 59.06 at 5 pm on polling day to 64.32 per cent announced the next day," former MLA Marri Shashidhar Reddy, who led the Congress delegation, said in a letter submitted to the Chief Election Commissioner. He quoted a retired election official as having said that EVMs cannot be tampered with, but "can be misused depending on who gets his hands on them". "The correctness of the number of votes polled after 5 pm is a big question," he said in the letter. "The ruling TRS leaders in Telangana have "demonstrated their ...
Trinamool seeks Arjun Singh's arrest
West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Friday approached the state Chief Electoral Officer seeking immediate arrest of Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha candidate Arjun Singh for causing "disturbance" in the Bhatpara assembly constituency.
Modi government gave befitting reply to Pak: Rupani
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave India a strong government which gave a befitting reply to Pakistan after the Pulwama terror attack.
Trump, Putin discussed Venezuela in phone talks: WH
US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Venezuela during wide-ranging telephone talks Friday, the White House said. Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Trump had made clear to Putin "that the United States stand with the people of Venezuela," in talks that also touched on trade, North Korea, Ukraine and disarmament treaties. US-Russian tensions have spiked in recent weeks over the crisis in oil-rich Venezuela where Washington is backing opposition leader Juan Guaido in his bid to oust President Nicolas Maduro -- who is backed by Russia and China. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserted this week that Maduro had a plane on the tarmac ready to flee to Cuba, but had been talked out of it by the Russians. "They had a very good discussion," said Sanders, describing the conversation as "overall very positive." The White House said the talks lasted a little over an hour, while the Kremlin said the leaders spoke for almost an
One commissioner gave dissenting view on two decisions on complaints against PM
One of the two election commissioners had given a dissenting view in the decision of the 'full Election Election Commission' to give clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the two speeches made in Maharashtra last month, highly-placed sources aware of the development said Friday. In the last three days, the commission gave its decision on as many complaints by the Congress against the prime minister, alleging violation of the model code. One of the election commissioners, according to the sources, gave a dissenting view in EC's decision to give clean chit to the prime minister on his speech at Wardha on April 1 where he attacked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for contesting from minority-dominated Wayanad seat and his appeal to first-time voters by invoking the Balakot air strikes and the Pulwama martyrs in Latur on April 9. The 'full Commission' which takes such decisions comprises Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and fellow election commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil ..
Poll campaigns hit as cyclone Fani advances to Bengal
Approaching severe cyclonic storm has thrown the election campaigns haywire in West Bengal with political parties either cancelling or defering their programmes, focusing more on how to provide relief materials in areas where the cyclone may wreak havoc.
EC clean chit to Shah over Nagpur, Nadia speeches
The Election Commission Friday found no violation of model code or its instructions on armed forces in two speeches delivered by BJP president Amit Shah in West Bengal and Maharashtra. The Commission concluded that it is of the considered view that in this matter, no such violation of MCC or ECI's instructions is made out. Addressing a rally in Krishnanagar in West Bengal, Shah reportedly said when IAF jets pounded terror camps in Balakot, the act was mourned in Pakistan and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's office. He also reportedly said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "sent his Air Force" to destroy terror camps in Pakistan after the deadly Pulwama attack in February this year. "Forty-four of jawans were martyred in Pulwama terror attack. Earlier, nothing used to happen after such incidents. Narendra Modi ordered his Air Force on the 13th day (of the incident) and our aircraft blew the terrorists to pieces in Pakistan," Shah said at the rally. Responding to a complaint
Trump calls Putin for first time after release of Mueller report
United States President Donald Trump on Friday telephoned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for the first time since the release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russia's alleged meddling in 2016 Presidential elections.The Hill quoted White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders as saying that the Mueller report came up "briefly" during the hourlong call and the message was: "It's over and there was no collusion."The two leaders also discussed the political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, nuclear agreements, North Korea and trade, Sanders added.Last month, the US President had dubbed the results of the Mueller investigation as "pretty amazing," adding, "The end result of the greatest Witch Hunt in US political history is No Collusion with Russia (and No Obstruction). Pretty Amazing!"This comes after the redacted version of the Mueller report was made public on April 18. While Mueller found no Russian collusion in Trump's campaign for the 2016 Presidential
Askhay trolled for not voting. But, only Indian citizens can vote
Actor Akshay Kumar who recently grabbed headlines for his "non-political" interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was widely trolled for not casting his vote in Mumbai on April 29 when the city went for Lok Sabha elections on April 29 in the fourth of seven-phased Lok Sabha election.
India thanks Australia for support on Azhar listing as both sides discuss counter-terror cooperation
India thanked Australia for its support on listing of JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN as the two countries discussed ways to enhance counter-terror cooperation at a meeting held in the Australian capital city of Canberra. The two countries discussed "contemporary counter terrorism challenges such as financing of terrorism, the use of the internet for terror purposes, radicalisation and foreign terrorist fighters" at the 11th meeting of the Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism on Thursday, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The bilateral meeting also deliberated upon the terrorist threats worldwide and in their respective regions, including the problem of cross-border terrorism. "India thanked Australia for co-sponsoring the listing proposal of Masood Azhar along with US, UK, France and other friendly countries," the statement said. "The two sides agreed to further deepen counter-terrorism cooperation through mutual ...
BJP to get 73-74 seats in Uttar Pradesh: Amit Shah
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Friday claimed that his party will get 73 to 74 seats in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections."The BJP will get 73-74 seats in Uttar Pradesh, there is no question about getting 72. The people of this country have already decided that Narendra Modi will again become the Prime Minister after counting of votes on May 23," Shah said here while campaigning for Rajnath Singh, the BJP candidate from Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency.At the rally, Shah also slammed the Congress party for not doing enough for national security."During the UPA regime, the whole country was suffering from Naxalism. When Rajnath Singh became the Union Home Minister and Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the reach of Naxalism was restricted to 15 per cent and now it os shrinking gradually as per a strategy," he said.Hailing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Shah said, "Ek zamana tha jab gundo se police darti thi, aaj police se gunde darte hai. .