Page 721 - Politics
Modi claims TMC's 40 MLAs in touch with him, WB's ruling party
Making a sensational claim in the middle of the general election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said 40 TMC MLAs were in touch with him and will desert their party once the BJP wins the poll. The TMC leadership was quick to hit back, accusing Modi of horse trading, and saying it would complain to the Election Commission about it. On the campaign trail in West Bengal's Sreerampur Lok Sabha seat in Hoogly district and Barrackpore constituency in North 24 Parganas, Modi accused TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee of nepotism, insisting she wants to politically establish her nephew in West Bengal. Modi also assailed her over her prime ministerial ambitions, saying "Didi, Dilli door hai (Delhi is far away)." "Didi, even your MLAs will desert you when the results of this election are out. Your 40 MLAs are in touch with me and all your MLAs will desert you once the BJP wins the election. Political ground has slipped from under your feet," Modi told an election rally in ...
Will leave politics if Rahul loses debate on Rafale deal to PM Modi: Sidhu
Punjab Minister and Congress' star campaigner Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday repeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi's challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a debate on Rafale jet deal and asserted that he would leave politics if the Gandhi scion loses it."Narendra Damodardas Modi, you debate with Rahul Bhai on Rafale jet deal in any part of the country. You can call him at your home. I will leave politics if Rahul Bhai loses the debate," he said at an election rally here.The Congress has alleged a scam in the Rs 59000 crore Rafale fighter jet deal and has promised to probe the irregularities into the purchase of 36 jets from France if the party comes to power.He accused the Prime Minister of lying to the country and dubbed him as 'feku' (liar).Sidhu said, "I have watched films with titles like 'Hero no 1', 'Coolie No 1' and 'Biwi No 1'. Now a film 'Feku No 1' is coming out."It is next to impossible to make Modi speak the truth, he quipped.The Congress leader said that BJP has .
Rahul will fulfil Gandhiji's 'dissolve Cong' wish: Chouhan
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan Monday said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi would fulfil Mahatma Gandhi's post-Independence wish that the country's oldest party be dissolved. He also accused the Congress chief of "breaking a record" of lying and levelling "wrong allegations" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a rally in Indore, he said, "After India attained Independence, Mahatma Gandhi had said the Congress should be dissolved. I feel this work (dissolution) will be accomplished at the hands of Rahul Gandhi." He further claimed that the Congress chief had to apologise in the Supreme Court for his "chowkidar chor hai" remark, adding that the opposition did not have a leader to take on Modi. He also took a swipe at former chief minister and Congress' Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Digvijaya Singh for inviting former JNU students' union president and CPI Begusarai Lok Sabha contestant Kanhaiya Kumar for ...
Paswan censures opposition over PM's caste debate
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday hit out at the opposition parties for raising the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's caste background and called them frustrated as they know they are "losing elections".
Amid stray clashes, only 10% vote in Anantnag (4th Lead)
Voting in the second phase of the troubled Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir ended on Monday marred by street protests but with only 10 per cent of the electorate coming out to vote.
Kangana votes, attacks Congress & Sonia Gandhi
Kangana Ranaut, known for her pro-BJP stance, here on Monday said India was "gaining independence in the real sense" as earlier "we were slaves" of the Italian government, in an apparent attack on the Congress.
India, China mark first anniversary of Wuhan summit
India and China are marking the first anniversary of the icebreaking meet between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, by holding a week-long celebration in the central Chinese city.
66.46 per cent voting in West Bengal till 5 pm
Notwithstanding violence, West Bengal on Monday recorded 66.46 per cent voting till 5 pm.In Uttar Pradesh, where polling is underway for 13 seats, 45.08 per cent votes had been polled till 5 pm, as per the figures released by the Election Commission of India (ECI).In Bihar, 44.33 per cent polling was recorded till 5 pm, while in Maharashtra 42.52 per cent.In Mumbai, several prominent personalities from film and cricket fraternity came out to cast their votes. Some of the big names who cast their votes included Sachin Tendulkar and Amitabh Bachchan.In Rajasthan, where polling is underway for 13 seats, 54.75 per cent polling was recorded, while in Odisha 53.61 per cent till 5 pm.In Jammu and Kashmir, where polling is underway in three districts of Anantnag, only 9.37 per cent votes were polled till 5 pm.Enthusiastic voters were lined up to exercise their franchise in Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. The voting percentage in these two states was 57.13 and 57.77 per cent respectively till 5 .
1,100 experts call for time to rebuild Notre Dame
Over 1,100 French and international architects and heritage experts have called on French President Emmanuel Macron to take the necessary time to ensure good reconstruction work on the fire-damaged Notre Dame Cathedral. In a column published by French newspaper Le Figaro Monday, they urge Macron to "let historians and experts have the time for diagnosis before deciding on the future of the monument." They call for a well-considered, thoughtful and ethical approach and warn against a "political agenda" based on speed. France's government last week presented a bill aimed at speeding up the reconstruction of Notre Dame that would allow workers to skip some ordinary renovation procedures. Macron has set a goal of rebuilding the cathedral in just five years, which some experts consider simply impossible to achieve.
Myanmar's Suu Kyi in Cambodia to strengthen bilateral ties
Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has arrived in Cambodia on an official visit to strengthen ties between the countries. The three-day visit starting Monday is the first since Suu Kyi became her country's head of government in 2016. Cambodia's foreign ministry says she will meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen, King Norodom Sihamoni and other Cambodian officials before visiting the famous Angkor Wat archaeological complex. Suu Kyi arrived from Beijing, where both she and Hun Sen attended a forum about China's multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative. Representatives of 37 countries were at the meeting on the massive infrastructure-building plan. Myanmar and Cambodia have both grown closer to China in reaction to pressure from Western nations over human rights issues.
54% voters beat the heat to vote in Bihar (3rd Lead)(5 p.m.)
Ignoring heat wave-like condition, nearly 54 per cent voters turned out to cast their vote in Bihar's five Lok Sabha constituencies -- Begusarai, Ujiarpur, Darbhanga, Munger and Samastipur -- till 5 p.m. on Monday, said an official.
J&K BJP advocates permanent closure of cross-LoC trade
The Jammu and Kashmir BJP Monday pitched for permanent closure of cross-LoC trade, currently suspended on the direction of the Centre, saying it has developed into a channel to foment trouble and sponsor illegal and unwanted activities. The saffron party also launched a scathing attack on National Conference and PDP leadership for their stand on Article 370 and Article 35A which, according to the BJP, have lost their relevance and time has come for their "removal for good". Article 370 of the Constitution grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir and limits Parliament's power to make laws concerning the state, while Article 35A empowers the state assembly to define 'permanent residents' for bestowing special rights and privileges on them. "The cross-LoC trade has brought countless miseries to the state as it has developed into a channel to foment trouble and do illegal and unwanted activity. Its suspension should pave the way for its permanent closure," BJP state spokesperson Brig ...
Patriotism being abused in the country: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday claimed that patriotism and nationalist feelings are being abused in the country and said the people should be cautious of those who indulge in it for the sake of votebank politics. He alleged that the political parties which did not recognise the sacrifices made by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and other freedom fighters are now questioning the valour of the armed forces - a reference to the air strikes at Balakot in Pakistan. "The country is witnessing a peculiar trend of abuse of partriotism and nationalist feelings. West Bengal is the land where the national song Vande Mataram was created. This is the land of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhaya. But here the song is being misintepreted to serve vote bank politics," Modi said at a poll rally here. The people of the country should be wary of such forces who think "hundred times" before shouting slogans in favour of the motherland in order to serve the purposes of their vote bank politics, ...
40 of Mamata's MLAs in touch with me: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday warned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that her MLAs will abandon her after the results of the Lok Sabha polls were out, claiming that 40 of them were already in touch with him.
Rajasthan witnesses 62% polling till 5 p.m.
Rajasthan witnessed 62.06 per cent polling till 5 p.m. on Monday in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections with the highest polling recorded in Barmer at 67.92 per cent while the lowest voting took place in Tonk Sawai Madhopur at 55.35 per cent.
Rahul Gandhi expresses "regret" again in SC over remarks on Rafale verdict
Congress President Rahul Gandhi Monday expressed regret again for "incorrectly" attributing his 'chowkidar chor hai' remark to the Supreme Court and accused BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi of trying to drag the court into a political controversy for "personal gains and political mileage" by moving the contempt petition against him. Seeking dismissal of the contempt petition over his remark against the prime minister in his response to the Rafale verdict, Gandhi filed a fresh affidavit reiterating that his statement was made in the "heat of political campaigning" and there was not the "slightest intention to insinuate" anything regarding the Supreme Court proceedings in any manner. The statement was made in Hindi in a "rhetorical flourish" in the heat of the moment, he said. Gandhi, who said he is a responsible political and public figure heading a 130-year-old political party, sought dismissal of Lekhi's plea, asserting it was an "abuse of process" of the court. The apex court on April 15 gave
'Are you campaigning or horse trading': TMC hits back at PM Modi
Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remark that 40 TMC MLAs are in touch with him, asking if he is campaigning or indulging in horse trading.Taking to Twitter, TMC spokesperson Derek O'Brien called Modi "Expiry Babu PM" and said his party will take up the Prime Minister's remark with the Election Commission."Expiry Babu PM, let's get this straight. Nobody will go with you. Not even one councillor. Are you election campaigning or horse trading! Your expiry date is near. Today, we are complaining to the Election Commission. Charging you with horse trading. #LokSabhaElection2019," he tweeted.Addressing a public rally in Serampore in West Bengal, Modi said that 40 TMC MLAs are in touch with him and there is nothing that can save Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee."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," he said at the public ...
AIADMK candidate Kandasamy files nomination for Sulur bypoll
AIADMK candidate P Kandasamy Monday filed his nomination for the by-poll to Sulur assembly constituency scheduled for May 19. G Mayilsamy of Makkal Neeti Maiam also filed his papers for the poll, necessitated by the death of sitting AIADMK MLA R Kanagaraj, officials said. Monday is the last date for filing of nomination. Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani, who accompanied Kandasamy, asserted there was no dissent in the party over the candidature and said the party was united as always. Kandasamy will win with a margin of over 50,000 votes, he told reporters. DMK has fielded former minister Pongalur N Palanisamy.
Mumbai's first-time voters seek to make "indelible" mark
A large number of first-time voters came out to cast their ballots Monday in Mumbai, marking their formal participation in choosing the next government in the world's largest democracy. According to the Election Commission (EC) data, Maharashtra has over 1.19 crore voters who fall in the age group of 18-19 years and are eligible to exercise their franchise in the Lok Sabha polls for the first time. Enthusiasm was palpable among first-time electors, who openly expressed their views about candidates in the fray and whom they voted for. Ninad Tendulkar (18), who cast his vote in Dindoshi, which falls under the Mumbai North-West parliamentary constituency, said he had voted keeping in mind issues like good governance and development. "The Congress-led opposition is not strong and convincing. The opposition party is contesting the lowest number of seats ever. "I felt there is no harm is giving the BJP-led NDA another chance," he said. Tendulkar came across as an informed ...
66.01 per cent voting in West Bengal till 5 pm
Notwithstanding violence, West Bengal on Monday recorded 66.01 per cent voting till 5 pm.In Uttar Pradesh, where polling is underway for 13 seats, 45.08 per cent votes had been polled till 5 pm, as per the figures released by the Election Commission of India (ECI).In Bihar, 44.33 per cent polling was recorded till 5 pm, while in Maharashtra 42.52 per cent.In Mumbai, several prominent personalities from film and cricket fraternity came out to cast their votes. Some of the big names who cast their votes included Sachin Tendulkar and Amitabh Bachchan.In Rajasthan, where polling is underway for 13 seats, 54.75 per cent polling was recorded, while in Odisha 53.61 per cent till 5 pm.In Jammu and Kashmir, where polling is underway in three districts of Anantnag, only 9.37 per cent votes were polled till 5 pm.Enthusiastic voters were lined up to exercise their franchise in Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. The voting percentage in these two states was 57.13 and 57.77 per cent respectively till 5 .