Page 712 - Politics
Timing of MHA notice to Rahul not relevant, it's normal process: Rajnath Singh
Hours after the MHA served a notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi seeking clarification on his citizenship status, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday said the timing of the communication is not relevant, even though it came in the middle of general elections. "It is not a big development. It is a normal process," he said, when asked about his ministry serving the notice to the Congress chief asking him to clarify within a fortnight his "factual position" on a complaint questioning his citizenship status. The Home Ministry issued the letter after it received a representation from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in which he has claimed that a company named Backops Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in 2003 with Gandhi as one of its directors. Singh told mediapersons here, "If any member of Parliament raises a question in Parliament, it becomes necessary to respond to it. If any MP writes a letter to any ministry, then necessary proceedings are undertaken by the ministry. It is .
Modi "shamelessly" engaging in horse trading, claims Mamata;
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded cancellation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's candidature from Varanasi for "shamelessly indulging in horse trading", a day after he claimed 40 TMC MLAs were in touch with him. Making a sensational claim in the middle of the general election, Modi had said on Monday that 40 TMC MLAs were in touch with him and will desert their party once the BJP wins the polls. "Modi said yesterday that 40 Trinamool Congress workers (MLAs) are in talks with the BJP. Look how shamelessly he is indulging in horse trading. His candidature should be immediately cancelled. He has no right to continue as the PM," Banerjee said at a rally in Hooghly district. The firebrand Trinamool Congress chief also said that people usually revere national leaders, but Modi was an exception. Likening the prime minister with Gabbar Singh, the antagonist in the 1975 blockbuster 'Sholay', she said, "National leaders like Netaji (Subhas Chandra ...
EC meets to decide complaints against Modi, Rahul
The Election Commission (EC) held a meeting on Tuesday to decide on the complaints of alleged violations of the model code of conduct (MCC) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and BJP President Amit Shah.
India's public debt increased by 57% during PM Modi's rule: Congress
Congress communications chief Randeep Singh Surjewala on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government at Centre saying the government has increased India's public debt by 57 per cent to 83 lakh 40 thousand and 26 crore rupees in just 4 years and 9 months of its rule."The sensational and shocking documents of the Finance Ministry now reflect that Modi government has taken a loan of Rs 30 lakh 28 thousand 945 crores in just 4 years and 9 months. In 70 years, the total debt of the country till March 2014 was rupees 53, 11, 081 crores. This is provable by the document of Finance Ministry which I am releasing. Post-March 2014, India's public debt increased by a whopping 57 per cent and went up to 83 lakh 40 thousand 26 crores. This is an increase of rupees 30, 28, 945 crores," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said at a press conference here.Surjewala also accused PM Modi government of taking huge loans against India's resources thereby increasing the debt ..
Mayawati threatens to reconsider support to MP government
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati on Tuesday said that she would reconsider her partys support to the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.
Delhi Court allows exemption plea filed by Kejriwal, 2 other AAP leaders
The Rouse Avenue Court here on Tuesday allowed a plea moved by Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal along with two other party leaders seeking exemption from appearing before it in a defamation case.Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Samar Vishal, while approving the application of the AAP leaders seeking an exemption from personal appearance, slated the matter for hearing to June 6.AAP parliamentarian Sushil Kumar Gupta and party's East Delhi candidate Atishi along with party chief Kejriwal had sought exemption from personal appearance as the trio are busy in political events in Delhi and Haryana in view of the ensuing Lok Sabha polls."They all are busy in political work in Delhi and Haryana," said their counsel Mohd IrshadAAP leaders moved court after ACMM Vishal, last month, issued summons against them and directed them to appear before the court on April 30 in connection with a defamation case filed by Delhi BJP leader Rajiv Babbar.The .
NCP supports Rahul on citizenship row
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday came out in support of Congress President Rahul Gandhi who has been served notice by the Union Home Ministry on his citizenship status.
Bedi 'cannot interfere' in day-to-day affairs of elected govt: HC
In a setback to Kiran Bedi, the Madras High Court Tuesday held that the Puducherry Lt Governor "cannot interfere" in the day-to-day affairs of the elected government of the Union Territory. Justice R Mahadevan pronounced the verdict on a petition by K Laksminarayanan, a Congress MLA, challenging two communications issued in January and June, 2017, by the Ministry of Home Affairs "elevating" the power of the administrator. He also set aside two communications of the Union government elevating the power of the Lt Governor. Allowing the plea, the judge said, "The administrator cannot interfere in the day to day affairs of the government. The decision taken by the Council of Ministers and the Chief Minister is binding on the secretaries and other officials." Laksminarayanan is a legislator from the Raj Bhavan assembly constituency.
TMC complains to EC, demands cancellation of PM Modi's nomination
All India Trinamool Congress has written a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner alleging a violation of the model code of conduct by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The party has also levied strong allegations against the Prime Minister by stating that he is encouraging horse trading and using this lie to persuade voters.In a letter written by TMC Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien and submitted to the Election Commission on Monday, the party has cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark in which he had said that 40 TMC MLAs are in touch with him and asserted that this is very unbecoming of the Prime Minister."He is trying to influence the voters to vote for BJP creating a mala fide impression in their minds that many MLAs of AITC are in touch with him and will cross over to his party. We lodge a strong protest against this mischievous campaign. This tone of speech is very likely to create an indication of impending horse-trading related to the election," the letter by TMC read.The .
Mayawati threatens to "reconsider" support to Cong govt in MP
BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday threatened to "reconsider" continuing support to the Kamal Nath-led government in Madhya Pradesh after her party candidate from Guna Lok Sabha seat joined the Congress. BSP candidate from Guna, Lokendra Singh Rajput, joined the Congress on Monday evening and extended his support to Guna's sitting MP and Congress candidate Jyotiraditya Scindia. Reacting to it, Mayawati on her official twitter handle said, "The Congress is not behind of BJP in misusing the government machinery. The Congress has intimidated the BSP candidate from Guna in MP to withdraw from the fray." "But, the BSP would reply by contesting the elections on its own symbol and also reconsider continuation of support to the Congress government," she tweeted in Hindi. In the last year's state Assembly polls, the Congress emerged as the single largest party in the 230-member House with 114 seats, two short of the simple majority mark. It formed the government with the support of two
PM speaking language of local goon: SP on Modi's remark on TMC MLAs
Samajwadi Party on Tuesday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark claiming that 40 Trinamool Congress MLAs were in touch with him, as "undignified and language of a local goon"."The Prime Minister's comment in West Bengal yesterday was undignified. It seemed like any local goon was speaking there," SP spokesperson Ameeque Jamei said."Modi should refrain from using this kind of undignified language," the SP leader told ANi here.Addressing an election rally in Serampore, Prime Minister Modi had on Monday claimed that 40 Trinamool Congress MLAs were in his touch and there is nothing that can save Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from losing power.Modi said: "Didi, on May 23, when the results will come, the lotus will bloom everywhere and your MLAs will leave you. Didi, your 40 MLAs are in contact with me even now."Jamei also said that the Election Commission will be seen as working on instructions of BJP if it does not act against Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah for allegedly violating .
Controversy over Rahul's citizenship is rubbish, says Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
The controversy over the citizenship of Rahul Gandhi is rubbish and drama, said Congress general secretary and in-charge for East UP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra here on Tuesday."The controversy about Rahul's citizenship is rubbish and drama. The whole of India knows that Rahul Gandhi is an Indian," she said."He was born, raised and grew up in India. What sort of rubbish is this (controversy) regarding his citizenship," Priyanka said when asked to comment.Priyanka was here to address election meetings in support of Rahul, who is seeking re-election from Amethi.The Congress party on Tuesday said the Home Ministry's notice to Rahul regarding his citizenship was a ploy to divert the people's attention from the real issues plaguing the nation.The party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of resorting to "a fake narrative to divert the attention of the people as he has no answers for unemployment, farmer distress, and tax terrorism unleashed on the traders of the country."Talking to ANI, ...
Priyanka dismisses allegations over Rahul's citizenship
Soon after the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi's to clarify his citizenship, his sister and the party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday dismissed the allegations as rubbish and said her brother was an Indian who was born and brought up in India.
Xi urges youth to 'love' the Communist Party
President Xi Jinping urged China's youth on Tuesday to be loyal to the Communist Party as he sought to whip up patriotic sentiment in a nationalist speech marking the centennial of a student protest. Xi delivered his hour-long plea at the Great Hall of the People to commemorate the May Fourth Movement, a landmark protest against colonialism and imperialism that rocked China in 1919. The speech came as the party faces a slowing economy and a series of politically sensitive anniversaries, including 30 years since the June 4, 1989 crackdown on Tiananmen Square protesters. "It's very shameful if a person isn't patriotic or even deceives or betrays the motherland. There is no place for such a person to stand anywhere," Xi told rows of young people, workers, soldiers and Communist Party cadres, many writing notes as he spoke. "In contemporary China, the essence of patriotism is to combine one's love for the country with love for the party and socialism," he said. "Chinese youth in the new ..
Rahul Gandhi, his party 'sulked' after Balakot air strike
BJP chief Amit Shah Tuesday targeted Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying he and his party "sulked" after the air strike in Pakistan's Balakot as his dreams of becoming prime minister got shattered. Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked to secure the country and give befitting replies to terrorists. Addressing an election rally in Dausa, he said, "Rahul baba and his company sulked after air strikes in Balakot of Pakistan. His dream of becoming country's prime minister got shattered. Now, they are seeking proof of air strike for their vote bank." He said the country was looking for a leader like Narendra Modi for 70 years. "Rahul Gandhi is asking what BJP did Rajasthan. We have been in government for just five years. Your four generations have ruled the country for 55 years," Shah said.
BJP questions Rahul Gandhi over Home Ministry's notice on his citizenship status
Describing Rahul Gandhi as a "man of mysteries", the BJP Tuesday questioned the Congress president over the Home Ministry's notice on his citizenship status asking which is real - "Rahul Gandhi London wale or Lutyens wale". Attacking the Congress president, the BJP said the entire Rahul Gandhi's citizenship saga is a story of three Cs - citizenship, confusion and clarification. The Home Ministry has served a notice to Rahul Gandhi, asking him to clarify within a fortnight his "factual position" on a complaint questioning his citizenship status. In a letter, the Home Ministry said it has received a representation from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in which it has been brought out that a company named Backops Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in 2003 with Rahul as one of its directors. Addressing a press conference at the party office, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said there are questions about Rahul Gandhi's citizenship and asserted that "if you create a confusion you ..
Deaf, dumb Dalits can get top positions in BJP, says Udit Raj
Dalit leaders - who are deaf and dumb - can get top positions in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said Udit Raj on Tuesday, who recently joined the Congress party after the BJP denied him the Lok Sabha ticket to seek re-election from North West Delhi reserved seat."If a Dalit is deaf and dumb in the BJP, then he can reach the top positions. First, they made a Dalit the party president. Now they have made a Dalit President. Had I been deaf and dumb, they could have made me the Prime Minister if needed," said Udit Raj at a press conference here."Ram Nath Kovind came to me with his bio-data requesting to recommend his name to the party leadership for some position in the party. I tried but nothing happened. After some time, he was first made the Governor and then the President of India," Raj said."BJP says the nation is secure under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. If so, then how come 350 kg explosives were used? What was the intelligence doing? Their intelligence can find ...
Two Congress leaders engage in verbal spat during election campaign
A video, in which Congress Lok Sabha candidate Badri Ram Jakhar and the party MLA Divya Maderna were seen involved in a verbal spat during the election campaign, has gone viral.Jakhar, who is contesting from Pali parliamentary constituency, was campaigning in Osian Assembly constituency represented by Maderna.During the gathering on April 26, party workers started protesting against Jakhar, which led to a verbal spat between the two Congress leaders.In Osian, Maderna faction and Jakhar faction remained in confrontation against each other.Polling in the parliamentary constituency was concluded on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Can Hooda do an Amarinder for Congress in Haryana?
With the stakes being high in the Haryana Lok Sabha elections, whose results will influence the state's Assembly elections to be held in October, the Congress is betting big on its old warhorses Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his son Deepinder Singh Hooda to stop the BJP juggernaut in the state.
No farmer to be jailed for loan default in Cong regime: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said no farmer in the country will be jailed for not repaying loans if his party comes to power at the Centre. Addressing a rally here in Tikamgarh district of Bundelkhand region in Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi blamed the NDA government's decisions of demonetisation and implementation of GST for "large-scale unemployment" in the country. "When the Congress government comes to power, no farmer will be sent to jail for not repaying bank loans," he said. Gandhi claimed that lakhs of youth lost jobs because of demonetisation and GST as production in factories stopped due to lack of demand in the market. "People have no money left with them as it was taken away by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through demonetisation," he said. Referring to the 'NYAY' poverty-alleviation scheme proposed by the Congress in its Lok Sabha poll manifesto, Gandhi said it will provide Rs 72,000 per year to those whose earning is less than Rs 12,000 per ...