Page 695 - Politics
Rahul slams Modi for his 'no sounds of blasts' remark, says PM needs to open ears and listen
Citing attacks such as Pulwama, Uri, and Wednesday's blast by Naxals, Congress president Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that since 2014 the sounds of blasts can't be heard in India, saying the PM needs to open his ears and listen. His scathing comment on the prime minister came after at least 16 people, including 15 security personnel, were killed in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in Gadchiroli district. "The PM says since 2014 the sounds of blasts can't be heard in India. Phulwama, Pathankot, Uri, Gadchiroli....and 942 other major bombings since 2014. The PM needs to open his ears and listen," Gandhi said. Last week, Congress leader P Chidambaram said the prime minister has said once again that there were no bomb blasts during his five-year tenure. "Is it due to memory loss or due to a compulsive habit," Chidambaram asked in a tweet. He also posted a list of blasts in Mohra, Dantewada, Palamu, Aurangabad, Koraput, Sukma, Awapalli, Chhattisgarh and ...
India to continue efforts to bring terror groups, terrorists to justice: MEA
India Wednesday welcomed the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN, nearly a decade after it first pushed for banning the Pakistan-based terrorist by the world body. In its reaction, the External Affairs Ministry said Azhar's designation as a UN proscribed terrorist is a step in the right direction and that India will continue its efforts to bring terror groups and their leaders to justice. In a huge diplomatic victory for India, the UN Sanctions Committee on Wednesday designated Azhar as global terrorist after China lifted its hold on a proposal to ban him. "The 1267 Sanctions Committee's decision to designate the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Masood Azhar, as a UN proscribed terrorist is a step in the right direction to demonstrate the international community's resolve to fight against terrorism and its enablers. We welcome the decision," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. France, the UK and the US had moved a fresh proposal to declare Azhar .
Found no objection to list Azhar after studying 'revised materials': China
China, which lifted its technical hold on listing JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN, said on Wednesday that it took the decision after it found no objection to the listing proposal by the US, the UK and France following a careful study of the "revised materials". In a huge diplomatic win for India, the United Nations Wednesday designated Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Azhar as a "global terrorist" after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist him. The 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council has detailed criteria for the listing procedures. China always believes that the relevant work should be carried out in an objective, unbiased and professional manner and based on solid evidence and consensus among all parties, a press release issued by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said. "On this listing issue, China has been communicating with relevant parties in a constructive and responsible fashion. Recently, relevant ..
Naxal attack: Tawde slams Pawar for demanding CM's resignation
Hours after Sharad Pawar slammed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the naxal attack in Gadchiroli, state Education Minister Vinod Tawde said the NCP chief was playing politics over the "national issues" and accused him of talking on the lines of ultras. Pawar has sought resignation of Fadnvais, who also holds Home portfolio, on a day naxals triggered an IED blast that killed 15 policemen and a civilian in the east Maharashtra district. "Instead of condemning the dastardly attack, Sharad Pawar is playing politics over national issues. He is talking on the lines of naxalites," Tawde said. Recalling the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai, Tawde said nobody had demanded resignation of the then chief minister Pawar but rather stood by him. "Pawar's resignation was sought later during an Assembly session. Today, such maturity is not there in politics. "If Pawar is so concerned about resignation of Fadnavis, why didn't he demand similar action against the ...
Congress praised Naik whose 'words caused' Lanka blasts: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday alleged the Congress praised controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, "whose words have triggered blasts in Sri Lanka killing 300 people", and its leaders were baying for his blood in their dream. Addressing an election rally here in Madhya Pradesh, he said the Rahul Gandhi-led party has nothing but hatred for him, but he has support of the entire country. "Zakir Naik's words have caused blasts in Sri Lanka, leaving 300 people dead. His TV channel was banned two or three days ago," Modi said. "Who is Zakir Naik? He is the one whom (Congress veteran) Digvijaya Singh use to glorify unabashedly. You will be shocked to learn that Zakir Naik addressed Indian police officers, that too on terrorism, under the (previous) Congress dispensation," he said. "Shame on Congress...and its vote-bank politics. They are glorifying Zakir Naik and calling him an apostle of peace," he added. Singh is the Congress's Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal, where he is ...
Kejriwal yet to respond to EC notice for asking voters to take money from BJP, Cong
The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi has issued a notice to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over allegations that the AAP was distributing pamphlets in slum areas asking people to take money from the BJP and the Congress but vote for his party, officials said. Kejriwal was supposed to reply by 5 pm on Wednesday but is yet to respond to it, they said. A complaint was filed with the Delhi poll body by BJP leader Vijender Gupta on April 29. He alleged that pamphlets were being distributed in jhuggi colonies of Delhi asking people to take money from the BJP and the Congress but vote only for 'jhadu' (AAP's poll symbol). Gupta alleged Kejriwal was misleading people and polluting their mind by stating that if they vote for BJP their jhuggis (slum dwellings) will no longer be safe. "This is a clear case where CM Kejriwal is openly supporting bribes to influence the voters to vote which is a clear case of violation of Model Code of Conduct for election," Gupta said. In cases where the reply is
'Not party policy': Shiv Sena's U-turn on 'burqa' ban demand (Roundup)
Hours after its party mouthpieces called for a ban on the use of 'burqas' like what Sri Lanka is considering, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday evening officially dissociated itself from the demand, following a massive furore on the issue just five days before the Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins.
Modi govt will punish those involved in ponzi scheme scams in
BJP president Amit Shah Wednesday said that those who were involved in the ponzi scheme scams in West Bengal will be brought to book if the Narendra Modi government is reelected and alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is destroying democracy in the state. Many scam-tainted high profile personalities are yet to be punished in Bengal and those who were involved in the ponzi scheme scams will be punished within 90 days of the Modi government's return to power, he said addressing poll rallies in different Lok Sabha constituencies of the state that go to the polls in the fifth phase on May 6. "Mamata Banerjee is destroying democracy, while Narendra Modi government is committed to restoring democracy if returned to power," he said adding that the TMC supremo is supporting those who wished to divide the country by separating Kashmir from India. "But this party (BJP) will continue its fight to ensure that Kashmir remains an integral part of India, no matter .
Britain's MI5 chief warns against 'startling' pull of ISIS
The head of Britain's MI5 intelligence service on Wednesday issued a warning over the "startling" pull of Islamic State (ISIS) propaganda among people who may have never even visited its Middle East bases. Andrew Parker said a large majority of terrorist plots thwarted by the British security services and Western allies last year were the work of such individuals, who had been inspired by the terrorist network's ideology from afar. "The pull of this propaganda is startling: of the plots thwarted by police and MI5 and our Western allies in 2018, 80 per cent were conducted by people inspired by the ideology of IS but who had never actually been in contact with it in Syria or Iraq," Parker writes in an article in the Evening Standard'. The intelligence chief hailed the fall of the so-called caliphate of ISIS in Syria as a hugely symbolic and significant military defeat but warned against complacency. "We also know that, despite their losses, IS' remaining members are intent on directing .
Acting Pentagon chief cancels overseas trip, cites Venezuela
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan on Wednesday abruptly canceled plans to travel to Europe, citing the crisis in Venezuela and the situation along the U.S.-Mexico border. A Shanahan spokesman, Lt. Col. Joe Buccino, said in a statement that Shanahan decided he should remain in Washington to coordinate with the National Security Council and the State Department on Venezuela and the border, where the military is assisting the Homeland Security Department with the migrant crisis. The Pentagon has thus far played no direct role in Venezuela, where opposition to Nicolas Maduro's government has created a crisis amid a so-far unsuccessful attempt to spark a military uprising. There was no indication that a U.S. military operation was in the works, but Shanahan would be expected to participate in high-level meetings to monitor the situation in Venezuela and consider U.S. options. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a House Appropriations subcommittee on ...
AAP delegation meets chief election commissioner, seeks action against Modi
An AAP delegation on Wednesday met the chief election commissioner and submitted a detailed memorandum about alleged gross malpractices by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during campaign in his Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that Modi has crossed the expenditure limit of Rs 70 lakh by a candidate for his road-show in Varanasi and sought action against him. The AAP delegation included Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh. In a letter to the election officer of Varanasi, Singh has claimed that a total expenditure of Rs 1.27 crore was incurred for the road-show on Thursday. Giving the break-up, Singh said the expenses incurred on the private jets used by various BJP leaders to reach Varanasi were Rs 64 lakh. "Over 100 BJP leaders took commercial flights to reach Varanasi at a cost of Rs 15 lakh. The hotel expenses were around Rs 8 lakh, while the expenditure on vehicles was Rs 6 lakh," Singh has said in the ...
Escalation in Syria's Idlib displaces nearly 140,000: UN
Fighting in northwestern Syria has displaced nearly 140,000 people since February, the UN said on Wednesday, as the regime and its ally Russia have stepped up their bombardment. "Since February, over 138,500 women, children and men have been displaced from northern Hama and southern Idlib," said David Swanson of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA. "Between 1 and 28 April, its estimated more than 32,500 individuals have moved to different communities in Aleppo, Idlib and Hama governorates," he told AFP. Idlib has been protected from a massive regime offensive by a September deal inked by Damascus ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey. But the region of some three million people has come under increasing bombardment since former the jihadist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group took full control of it in January. The escalation has killed more than 200 civilians since February, the UN said last week. A new wave of shelling and airstrikes this week targeted schools and .
BSP candidate from NE Delhi promises to ensure legitimate wages to labourers, build homes for them
BSP candidate Rajveer Singh, who is contesting from Northeast Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, said Wednesday his party will provide legitimate minimum wages to workers and build shelter homes for them, if voted to power. On Labour Day, Singh greeted workers of Delhi and raised the slogan of 'Shramev Jayate' (labour triumphs). Expressing deep anguish over the neglect of labourers and the working class in the National Capital Region, he held the Centre and Aam Aadmi Party responsible for their plight. He promised his party would provide legitimate minimum wages to all workers and build shelters homes for them, if voted to power. He said BSP will make all efforts for the welfare of workers. "The apathy of the Centre towards working class is well-known. However, the Delhi government, which makes tall claims, is following in the footsteps of the Modi government. Delhi government did not properly implement Minimum Wage Act, 1948 and other labour laws, thereby, undermining the interests of ...
Pak to 'immediately' enforce sanctions imposed on Azhar: FO
Pakistan on Wednesday said it would "immediately enforce the sanctions" imposed by the UN on JeM chief Masood Azhar and said it agreed to his listing after all "political references", including attempts to link him to the Pulwama attack were removed from the proposal. In a major diplomatic win for India, the United Nations designated Pakistan-based Azhar as a "global terrorist" after China lifted its hold on a proposal by the US, the UK and France to blacklist him. The US, the UK and France had moved the proposal to designate Azhar as a "global terrorist" in the UN Security Council's 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee in February, just days after the deadly Pulwama terror attack carried out by the JeM in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan foreign office spokesman Mohammad Faisal also rejected the world body's move as a "victory for India and validation of its stance" as projected by the Indian media. "Pakistan maintains that terrorism is a menace to the world...the UNSC 1267 Sanctions ...
UN designates Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as global terrorist
In a huge diplomatic win for India, the United Nations on Wednesday designated Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief, a decade after New Delhi approached the world body for the first time on the issue. "Big, small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support," India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin tweeted. The UN committee listed Azhar on May 1, 2019 as being associated with Al-Qaeda for "participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of", "supplying, selling or transferring arms and related material to", "recruiting for", "otherwise supporting acts or activities of", and "other acts or activities indicating association with" the JeM. A UNSC designation will ...
Stalin gets irked when AIADMK acts against MLAs: CM
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Wednesday wondered why Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M.K. Stalin gets worked up when disciplinary action is sought to be taken against ruling party legislators.
Corruption at peak during Congress regimes: Himachal CM
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday said corruption was at its peak during the Congress regimes and due to this most of its leaders were on bail.
Cong, JMM serving interests of leaders families only, claims
Union minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday took a swipe at the opposition Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) claiming that these parties are serving the interests of their leaders families, and not the country and the people. "The Congress is serving the Gandhi family while JMM chief Shibu Soren thinks only about his own family. They are not interested about the development of the country or the state," Goyal alleged. On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has only a single agenda the development of the country and Jharkhand," he said while addressing an election rally here.. Modi has set up a Rs 6000 crore fertilizer factory in Sindri township of Dhanbad district, the railway and coal minister said. Coal production has increased by 150 million tonne during the five years of Modi government, far ahead of what the Congress had managed in 10 years between 2004 to 2014, Goyal claimed. He was addressing the election rally at Bhuli in support of BJP candidate
Centre's money going to 'nephew' in Bengal: Shah
In an apparent reference to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, BJP President Amit Shah said on Wednesday that the money which was so far been looted by the "syndicates" in Bengal was now going directly into the pocket of "the nephew".
EC notice to Sidhu for calling PM Modi a 'thief'
The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to Congress leader and Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu over his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.