Page 722 - Politics

UP has changed, 'bahubalis' have no impact now: Shah

BJP president Amit Shah on Monday accused the Opposition of giving tickets to musclemen in Uttar Pradesh, asserting that their presence would not have any impact as the Adityanath government had been acting "tough" against them. Shah alleged that goons of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) used to work as land mafias, claiming that ever since the "anti-land mafia squads" had been set up by the government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the encroachment or illegal occupation of houses or land had stopped. Addressing rallies in Chitrakoot and Pratapgarh district, Shah said: "The people from the 'grand adulteration' have given tickets to 'bahubalis' (musclemen) in Uttar Pradesh, but such strongmen do not have an impact here." The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been referring to the Opposition alliance as "mahamilavat" (grand adulteration). "The 'mahamilavatis' are not able to understand yet that Uttar Pradesh has changed.... Now, it is the Yogi government

Maha EVM snags: Cong approaches EC, NCP says something fishy

The Congress Monday made 30 complaints to the Election Commission about alleged glitches in EVMs across the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra where polling is underway. A majority of the complaints came in from Dhule and Nandurbar, the party said, prompting ally NCP's state chief Jayant Patil to claim that something was "fishy" in the two seats. "Complaints have been made to Election Commissioner, Chief Electoral Officer and other authorities concerned via e-mail," the Congress said in a statement. Patil too said that complaints were coming in from several seats where election is being held, and questioned if the Electronic Voting Machine glitches were being caused deliberately. "The districts like Dhule and Nandurbar are bastions of the Congress. There is definitely something wrong if EVM malfunctioning complaints are coming from such places. There is something fishy!" the NCP leader tweeted.

Pakistan releases 55 Indian fishermen, 5 civilians as 'goodwill gesture'

Pakistan on Monday released 55 Indian fishermen and five civilians as a "goodwill gesture" amidst tension between the two countries after the Pulwama terror attack, according to a media report. The Indian fishermen and citizens, arrested in Pakistan, were released from Karachi's Malir jail, the Express Tribune reported. The released prisoners were taken to the Karachi Cantonment Railway Station under heavy security, where they boarded the Business Express for Lahore, the report said. As a goodwill gesture amid tension with India, Pakistan had announced to release 360 Indian prisoners, including 355 fishermen and five civilians, during April, the report added. Fifty-five of the men were arrested for illegal fishing in Pakistan's territorial waters, while the other five were detained for crossing the border illegally. All of them were taken to Lahore in a train where they are expected to be handed over to the Indian authorities at Wagah border. On April 7, Pakistan released first batch

AAP files another complaint against Gautam for violating Model Code of Conduct

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi Marlena on Monday wrote to East Delhi Returning Officer (RO), accusing BJP candidate Gautam Gambhir of violating the Model Code of Conduct again.In the letter, Marlena has stated: "I file my formal complaint against Gautam Gambhir, East Delhi Parliamentary Constituency candidate, BJP, for distributing pamphlets without details such as printer's name and quantity in violation of the rules."The AAP leader, who is facing Gambhir and Arvinder Singh Lovely of the Congress, further wrote: "This is the third time in a row that Gambhir has violated the MCC. Such continued blatant disregard for the Election Commission is contrary to the spirit of democracy and endangers the free and fair process of elections...Only an exemplary punishment can deter such continued willful violation."The AAP leader has requested the RO to take strong action on her complaint and register an FIR against Gambhir.On Sunday, Marlena had sought 72 hours ban on Gambhir from ...

Rahul Gandhi to address 3 rallies in MP's Bundelkhand on Tue

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will Tuesday address three public meetings in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. The meetings will be held in Tikamgarh, Damoh and Khajuraho Lok Sabha seats, all currently held by the BJP. Sagar is the fourth Lok Sabha seat in Bundelkhand, an impoverished region of the state. "Rahul ji will first address a public meeting at noon in Jatara in Tikamgarh Lok Sabha seat. He will then hold election rallies at Patharia in Damoh parliamentary constituency around 1.45 pm and at Amanganj in Khajuraho Lok Sabha seat around 4.15 pm," MP Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta told PTI Monday. The Congress, which unseated the BJP in the 2018 Assembly polls, is hopeful of opening its account in the region this time, said party functionaries. In April 2008, Gandhi had visited Bundelkhand's remote Tapriyan village in Tikamgarh district and spent the night in a tribal's thatched-roof house devoid of basis amenities. He then got the Centre to announce an ..

Congress cried foul when we responded to Pulwama terror attack: Amit Shah

For 10 years, 'aaliya maaliya' entered the Indian soils without former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh doing anything about it, but when we responded to the Pulwama terror attack, Congress started crying foul, BJP president Amit Shah said on Monday.Addressing an election rally here, Shah affirmed that his party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has truly secured the borders of the country and made national security as its foremost priority. "If Pakistan fires a bullet at us, we will throw a bomb in reiteration," he added.Continuing his tirade against the opposition parties, BJP president said: "Following the Pulwama terror attack in which at least 40 CRPF personnel died, the opposition parties wanted us to have a dialogue with Pakistan, but we reiterated with an aerial strike. If Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav or Mayawati were at our place, they would not have done the same, as they are always concerned about their vote banks."He reiterated his promise of scrapping Article 370 of the ...

BJP govt arrogant, ignored farmers: Pilot

Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Monday termed the BJP government at the Centre "arrogant" and accused it of ignoring the farmers and leaving the youth unemployed. Addressing an election rally in Sardarshahar town under the Churu Lok Sabha constituency, he also claimed the BJP would not be able to open its electoral account in south India in this parliamentary polls. On Congress president Rahul Gandhi fighting elections from Wayanad in Kerala apart from his pocket borough Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, Pilot said, "Rahul Gandhi ji decided to fight elections from Kerala after considering the workers sentiments and as a result BJP will not be able to open account in South India." "BJP is going to be wiped out in the south," he said, adding, "It will meet the same result as that in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan where the Congress formed government after Assembly elections." Pilot also alleged that all promised made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last five ...

Rafale: Centre seeks deferment of Tuesday's hearing in SC

The Supreme Court Monday allowed the Centre to circulate a letter among parties concerned for adjournment in tomorrow's scheduled hearing on pleas seeking review of its Rafale deal verdict of December 14 last year. The Centre, in its letter, said it needs time to file reply on merits on the review petitions. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna allowed senior advocate R Balasubramanian, appearing for the Centre, to circulate the letter among the parties which include petitioners who have filed review pleas. The bench, however, did not say anything on the issue of adjournment of scheduled hearing on Tuesday. The review petitions filed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan is listed for hearing before a bench headed by the Chief Justice on Tuesday in the post lunch session. Two other review petitions -- filed by Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh and advocate Vineet Dhanda -- are also ...

Polling ends peacefully in J&K's Anantnag with just 10% turnout (3rd Lead)

Voting for the second phase of Anantnag Lok Sabha seat ended peacefully on Monday amid high security with only around 10 per cent voters coming out to exercise their democratic right.

Mission 'mahamilavat' wants 'khichdi' govt at Centre: PM's dig at Oppn

He said the opposition's grand alliance and its leaders owe allegiance to nobody, and are only interested in votes

SC allows Centre's plea to defer Rafale hearing

Acting on Centre's plea to defer the Rafael verdict review hearing fixed for Tuesday on grounds that it needs time to file reply on merits, the Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Centre to circulate a letter for adjournment of the hearing.

BJP delegation files complaints against Rahul, Kejriwal with EC

A BJP delegation on Monday met the Election Commission officials over several issues including 'defamatory and baseless' allegations levelled by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, poll-related violence in West Bengal, and favouriticism of officials in Madhya Pradesh.Union Ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Vijay Goel, Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narasimha Rao met Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and other poll body officials."Congress president Rahul is continuously attacking and giving statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah that is against the model code of conduct," Naqvi told reporters after the meeting."Rahul has called our party president as 'killer' which is against the electoral laws and categorised under corrupt practices. Rahul is becoming a part of 'gaali gang' (people who abusive) which is uncivilised in a democratic country. His allegations are baseless and false," he said.Speaking further, the Union Minister said: "The Election Commission ..

Won't promise 2 crore jobs but guarantee 22 lakh jobs: Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that the his party will provide 22 lakh government jobs to people if voted to power following the ongoing elections."I do not promise 2 crore jobs from this stage. I talked about NYAY and lakhs of people would get employed. When we form the government, I can guarantee that Congress will give 22 lakh government jobs," Gandhi said while addressing a poll rally here."I will not say 2 crore jobs, will speak the truth of 22 lakh jobs. In 10 lakh Panchayats, youths can be employed," he said.Speaking further, Gandhi said: "Through demonetisation, he (Narendra Modi) took money from your pockets and he rolled out Gabbar Singh Tax and took you're your remaining money as well."People stopped purchasing and as a result companies were forced to shut down that led to unemployment," he added.The Congress president reiterated his poll promise of NYAY in which the party will give Rs 72,000 to 20 per cent of poor whose income is under Rs 12,000 if voted ..

Shatrughan Sinha files his nomination from Patna Sahib

Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha on Monday filed his nomination papers from Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat from where the BJP has fielded Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.Talking to media persons here, Sinha said: "I am very happy to see the crowd gathered during my nomination filing. People have so much excitement today that police had to interfere and control them.""I am grateful to the people of Patna, our workers, RJD, Congress and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP)," he said.Sinha, the sitting MP from Patna Sahib, left the BJP to join the Congress earlier this month.Lok Sabha elections in Bihar are being held in all seven phases. So far, 19 seats out of 40 have gone to the polls in the state. The last phase of polling will take place on May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

EC condemns 'impugned' statement made by Maneka Gandhi

Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday "strongly condemned" the statement made by Union Minister Maneka Gandhi on April 12 and "warned" her not to repeat such misconduct in future."The Commission has seen the video recording of her impugned speech and based on the available evidence and material facts, is convinced that the statement made by her is in violation of provision of Model Code of Conduct and Representation of Peoples Act, 1951," Anuj Jaipuriar, Principal Secretary, stated in a letter directed to Gandhi.The warning came days after Gandhi while addressing a public meeting in Sultanpur said that her win from the Sultanpur Lok Sabha constituency was certain "with or without" the support of the Muslims and the community should realise it since they will need to get their work done once BJP is in power.On April 15, taking cognizance of the matter, EC had barred her from election campaigning for 48 hours for violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the ongoing Lok Sabha .

Be it Pakistani terrorists or traitors on our own soil, chowkidar will not spare anyone: PM Modi

Be it Pakistani terrorists or traitors on our own soil, your chowkidar will not spare anyone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.Addressing an election rally here, the Prime Minister said, "We have proved through the surgical and aerial strikes that if we receive a threat from anywhere, we revert with the same force."PM Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party and said, "Congress announced that if they are voted to power, their government will remove the sedition law. It implies that this party is the supporter of the Naxalites. This would make it harder for us to launch an inquiry onto such anti-national forces. This shows the ideologies of the party."Lambasting at the erstwhile Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, PM Modi said, "Atal Bihari Vajpayee had given consent for the Koderma to Ranchi rail line twenty years ago, but the Congress government did not go ahead with the plan. People of this state gave me a chance in 2014 and we started .

Clashes disrupt polling in Bengal, minister's car vandalized

Violence marred the first few hours of polling in West Bengal, where the fourth phase of elections is underway in eight Lok Sabha constituencies. According to a senior election official, clashes broke out between the supporters of rival parties in Nanoor, Rampurhat, Nalhati and Siuri areas of Birbhum seat, injuring several people on the two sides. In Dubrajpur area of the constituency, voters allegedly engaged in a scuffle with the central forces when they were barred from entering the booths with mobile phones. Security personnel reportedly opened fire in the air to control the mob, following which polling was stalled in these booths, the official said. The state election office has also received reports of violence from Jemua and Barabani areas of Burdwan East (SC) constituency, he maintained. "In Barabani, BJP candidate and central minister minister Babul Supriyo's vehicle was vandalised allegedly by the workers of the TMC outside a polling station, while in Jemua, ...

TMC accusses Modi of horse trading, to complain to EC

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O' Brien Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of horse trading for saying at a poll rally that 40 party MLAs are in touch with him and said it would complain to the Election Commission. "Expiry Babu PM, lets 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," Brien tweeted. Modi while addressing an election rally at Sreerampur in Hoogly district on Monday said that 40 TMC MLAs were in touch with him and will desert their party once BJP wins the general elections. "Political ground has slipped from under your feet," Modi said at the targeting the TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee is one of Modi's and BJP's severest critics.

SC to hear Congress MP's plea of model code violations by PM, Shah

The Supreme Court Monday agreed to hear tomorrow a Congress MP's plea seeking direction to the Election Commission to decide without any "demur" the complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah on their alleged hate speeches and using armed forces for "political propaganda". A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took note of the submissions of senior advocate A M Singhvi that the plea of Sushmita Dev, Congress Lok Sabha MP from Silchar in Assam and President of 'All India Mahila Congress', be accorded an urgent hearing as EC has not taken any decision on complaints of model code of conduct (MCC) violations against Modi and Shah. Dev alleged that "inaction" by EC on complaints against top BJP leaders was "a sign of invidious discrimination" and was "arbitrary, capricious and impermissible" as it was destructive of the integrity of electoral process. Singhvi, along with lawyer Sunil Fernandes, alleged that BJP leaders have been violating MCC during .

Maharashtra tribals outshine Mumbai stars on V-Day

Not belying expectations, tribals and villagers in far-flung hamlets in the state 'out-voted' cool Mumbaikars, business and glamour world personalities in the fourth and final phase of voting for 17 Lok Sabha constituencies on Monday.