Page 730 - Politics
Kanhaiya Kumar will campaign for me, says Digvijaya Singh
CPI youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar will campaign for me, revealed former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh here on Sunday."Kanhaiya Kumar will campaign for me on May 8 and 9," he declared at an election meeting.Singh is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Bhopal on the Congress ticket. He is pitted against Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)."I am a supporter of Kanhaiya Kumar. And I am very happy that he will come here to campaign in my favour," he said.Singh said: "I had stated within my party that the RJD has made a blunder by fielding its candidate against Kumar from Begusarai. I also made some efforts that Begusarai seat is left for the CPI."Singh, a two time Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, said that Kumar has emerged as an ideologue among the youth.Kumar shot to fame in 2016 after the alleged raising of anti-India slogans in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi. He is facing Union Minister Giriraj Singh of the BJP and Tanveer Hasan of Lalu ...
Sudan's civilians and military agree on joint council
Taking the first step towards breaking the prevailing deadlock, Sudan's ruling Military Transitional Council (MTC) and the Declaration of Freedom and Changes Forces agreed in principle to create a joint council to run the country until the next elections."Talks will continue and we are optimistic on reaching a final result that we can announce to the Sudanese people as soon as possible," Shams Eldin Kabashi, the spokesperson for the military council, told Al Jazeera, He added that Saturday's "talks started with high spirits and great transparency".However, Saturday's decision is only the first step as both the sides are yet to sort out disagreements."There is still a lot of discord and disagreement between the two sides. The military wants 10 members on this council, three of them civilians, seven of them military. The opposition wants the council to be made up of 15 members, eight of them civilians and seven people from the military," Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall said.Sudan's former ...
BJP drops Parrikar's son Utpal, names his aide for Panaji Assembly by-poll
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday dropped the name of Utpal Parrikar, son of former Defence Minister late Manohar Parrikar, and named Sidharth Kuncalienker as its candidate for the ensuing Panaji Assembly by-poll.The nomination of Kuncalienker, an aide of late Parrikar, was approved after much deliberation by the BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC), said JP Nadda, secretary, CEC, in a statement.It was widely expected that the BJP would name Utpal as its candidate to get benefit from the sympathy wave for him arising out of his father's demise.The Panaji Assembly by-poll, scheduled for May 19, was necessitated after the death of sitting BJP MLA and then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar last month.Utpal Parrikar, 38, has a Masters degree from the United States and is currently in business. He had earlier said that he would take any responsibility given by the BJP.Kunkolienkar first won the Panaji seat during the 2015 by-election. He again won the constituency in the 2017 ...
Spain holds third general elections since 2015
Voting for the third general elections in the last four years is underway across Spain, with the preliminary results expected to be announced on Sunday evening.The major parties in the electoral race are the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), the conservative People's Party (PP), left-wing populist Podemos, centrist-populist Ciudadanos (or Citizens) and far-right Vox partyThe polls are being held in the wake of tensions over Catalonia, following the failed bid for Catalan independence in 2017.Sunday's snap polls could see a return of the far right in Spain, even though left-wing PSOE is expected to win most of the seats but not an outright majority, according to Al Jazeera.Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who led the country for around a year, was forced to call for fresh elections after his budget proposals were rejected in February. He is seeking to retain his post during the elections for the 350-seat parliament.The outcome of the snap polls could see the surge of two ...
AAP candidate Brajesh Goyal hits out at BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi over sealing drive
Attacking his opponent and sitting MP Meenakshi Lekhi, AAP's Lok Sabha candidate Brajesh Goyal on Sunday alleged that the BJP leader ignored the problems of sealing drives in several prominent markets in the New Delhi parliamentary constituency."Who the BJP selects as its candidate is their party's decision, but having been an absentee MP during the last five years, I challenge Lekhi to break her silence on how her party's central government ruined traders of several prominent markets in New Delhi constituency due to brutal and mindless sealing of legal shops and commercial establishments," stated Goyal who is contesting from New Delhi Lok Sabha seat against Lekhi.The AAP leader said that he had tried to meet Lekhi to discuss the issues of traders, but she not only refused to meet but also paid no heed to the issues."I also challenge Lekhi to make her road map public on how these shops can be desealed. When the sealing began in 2017, I had tried to meet Lekhi with delegations of ...
Atishi seeks 72 hours ban on Gambhir from campaigning
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from East Delhi Atishi Marlena on Sunday sought 72 hours ban on BJP nominee Gautam Gambhir from campaigning for "repeatedly violating" the Model Code of Conduct."Gautam Gambhir has not yet clarified whether he has two voter card or not. Today Gautam Gambhir has again held an unauthorised rally. I have filed a complaint in the EC to ban him from campaigning for 72 hours," Atishi told media persons."I beg to file my formal complaint against Gautam Gambhir, East Delhi parliamentary constituency candidate of BJP for holding a rally at 9.30 am on April 28 in J and K blocks, Dilshad Garden, without the permission from the Election Commission," she stated in her complaint.The Election Commission on Saturday directed East Delhi Lok Sabha seat Returning Officer (RO) to file an FIR against Gambhir, as his name figures twice in the electoral rolls."This is the second such violation by him in last three days which makes him a repeated offender. Election Commission .
Ending sanctions waiver will anger US allies: Iran FM
The US decision to end sanctions waivers for purchases of Iranian oil later this week will backfire by angering Washington's allies, Tehran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Sunday. Zarif said US policy is designed to make life hard for the Iranian people so they will "take action" against the Tehran government. "They are wrong in their analysis. They are wrong in their hope," Zarif told Fox News, insisting instead that the people of Iran will get fired up to resist such pressure. In May last year, President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with world powers, which had given the Islamic republic sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme. Washington reimposed oil sanctions on Iran in November, but initially gave eight countries, including several US allies, six-month reprieves. Five of the countries -- Greece, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan -- have already heavily reduced their purchases from Iran. The others ...
BJD files complaint against BJP for using voice calls for campaigning a day before polls
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer, Bhubaneshwar, against the Bharatiya Janata Party for allegedly making use of voice calls for campaigning and violating the Model Code of Conduct."This is an extremely condemnable action by BJP of sending voice calls for election campaigning despite ban/silence being in force. We demand immediate stoppage of the voice calls being made in violation of the Model Code of Conduct and Election Commission guidelines," the BJP stated in its letter to the CEO.The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led party also demanded "strict action" against BJP and "the service provider circulating these violative voice calls".Odisha, where 21 Lok Sabha seats are at stake, will go to polls for its 6 seats in the fourth phase of elections on April 29.
Capt Amarinder doesn't want Rahul to campaign in Punjab, claims Haryana Chief Minister
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said that his Punjab counterpart Captain Amarinder Singh doesn't want Congress president Rahul Gandhi to campaign in Punjab while Haryana Congress leaders and party workers also desist from seeking votes in Rahul Gandhi's name."I am telling you a secret. Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has already said that there is no need to send Rahul Gandhi to Punjab," said Khattar while addressing an election rally here on Sunday."In Haryana, Congress leaders request their workers that they should not seek votes in the name of Rahul Gandhi. They ask them to seek votes from people in the name of any other things but certainly not in the name of Rahul. Such is his image," said Khattar."They say so because they also know that Rahul Gandhi is a subject of mockery for everyone in the country. No other leader was mocked in the manner Rahul Gandhi has been mocked at," said Khattar.He alleged that Rahul Gandhi has also "insulted women" by saying ...
EC banned me for my 'Bajrangbali' antidote given to check Cong's communal virus: Yogi Adityanath
The Election Commission of India (ECI) banned me from campaigning after I gave the antidote of 'Bajrangbali' to check the communal virus being spread by the Congress party, said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Sunday."When I gave an antidote in the form of 'Bajrangbali' against the communal virus being spread by the Congress party and its allies, then the Election Commission (EC) banned me. I am surprised that if we say something, we are tagged as communal," said Adityanath, while addressing an election rally here."Those who speak in support of terrorism are considered as humans. Those who speak against terrorists are considered as communal. If we stand firm on the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,' we are dubbed as communal," he said.Adityanath made some objectionable statements during an election rally at Meerut on April 9 following which the ECI on April 15 barred him campaigning for 72 hours for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).EC said that ...
Former US Senator Richard Lugar, foreign policy expert, dies
Former Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, a Republican foreign policy sage known for leading efforts to help the former Soviet states dismantle and secure much of their nuclear arsenal, but whose reputation for working with Democrats cost him his final campaign, died Sunday. He was 87. Lugar died at the Inova Fairfax Heart and Vascular Institute in Virginia from complications related to chronic inflammatory demylinating polyneuropathy, or CIPD, a rare neurological disorder, the Lugar Center in Washington said in a statement announcing his death. The statement said his wife, four sons, and their families were with him "throughout his short illness at the hospital." A soft-spoken and thoughtful former Rhodes Scholar, Lugar dominated Indiana politics during his 36 years in the US Senate. That popularity gave him the freedom to concentrate largely on foreign policy and national security matters a focus highlighted by his collaboration with Democratic Senator Sam Nunn on a programme under ...
US official: Trump wants solo, not multi-party talks with NK
The U.S. has little interest in joining other countries in a multi-nation effort to get North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, President Donald Trump's national security adviser said Sunday. The United States is not trying to exclude other nations from nuclear talks with Pyongyang, John Bolton told "Fox News Sunday," but "I think it's not what our preference is." "I think Kim Jong Un, at least up until now, has wanted the one-on-one contact with the United States, which is what he has gotten," Bolton said, adding that Trump is open to possibility of a third summit with Kim. Following their talks in Russia on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin suggested the revival of a multilateral approach to the denuclearization negotiations, which have failed in the past. Putin said Kim is willing to give up nuclear weapons, but only if he gets ironclad security guarantees supported by a multinational agreement. The U.S., North Korea, China, South Korea, Russia and Japan began so-called ...
Key constituencies going to polls on Monday
As many as 72 Lok Sabha constituencies across nine states will go to the polls on Monday in the fourth phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections.
AAP raising statehood issue to hide failures: BJP
Union Minister Vijay Goel here on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over full statehood demand, saying he was raising the issue to hide his failures.
Sudan protesters hail breakthrough in talks with army rulers
Sudanese protesters Sunday welcomed a breakthrough in talks with army rulers who agreed to form a joint civilian-military council, paving the way for the civilian administration demanded by demonstrators. Saturday's agreement would replace the existing 10-member military council that took power after the army ousted veteran leader Omar al-Bashir on April 11 amid massive protests. "What happened yesterday is a step to have a civilian authority," said Mohamed Amin, one of thousands of demonstrators who have been camped for weeks outside the army headquarters. "We are happy about the progress in the talks, but we are still waiting for the composition of the council and the civilian government." The joint civilian-military council would be the overall ruling body, the protest leaders say, while a new transitional civilian government was expected to be formed to run the day-to-day affairs of the country, a key demand of protesters. That civilian government would work towards having the ...
Sitharaman in Kyrgzstan for SCO Defence Ministers meet
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday reached Kyrgzstan for a meeting of the Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries, an official said.
EC puts controversial TMC leader Anubrata Mondal under scanner
The Election Commission has put under close watch controversial Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal on the eve of polling in Birbhum district, a senior official of the Commission said Sunday. The decision was made after the Commission received representations from poll workers saying they are feeling "threatened" if Mondal, TMC Birbhum district president, keep moving from one booth to the other on the polling day, he said. EC officials and personnel of the central force will be with Mondal till Tuesday and his mobile phones will be monitored, he said. Birbhum district has two Lok Sabha seats - Birbhum and Bolpur (SC). "Mondal is quite influential. Poll workers have told us that they feel threatened when the TMC leader moves from booth to booth. The decision was made to ensure that they work without hesitation," the official told PTI on condition of anonymity. When contacted, Mondal said the EC move followed the "direction of the BJP" and he would be at the party ..
Benin votes, with just one choice
The people of Benin voted on Sunday for a new parliament but without a single opposition candidate to choose from, as rights groups warn of a crackdown in a country once seen as a model for democracy. Voters in the small West African state were given the choice to select their 83 members of parliament from two parties both allied to President Patrice Talon. The country's main opposition parties, effectively barred from fielding candidates by tough new eligibility rules, had asked their supporters to protest by boycotting the polls. Many of the five million registered voters seemed to have stayed away, with streets quiet and turnout extremely slow at voting booths in the economic capital Cotonou. In one polling station in the capital Porto-Novo, only five of the 261 registered voters had cast their ballots four hours after opening. The situation seemed similar in other parts of Benin. In Attogon, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Cotonou, election officials explained that voters .
AAP MLA 'misusing' position as Delhi Waqf Board chief to benefit his party: BJP leader
BJP leader Vijender Gupta Sunday alleged that AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan was "misusing" his official position as the chairman of Delhi Waqf Board to benefit his party in the Lok Sabha elections. Gupta said that on April 8, 2019, just before the Model Code of Conduct came into force, the Waqf Act 1995 was violated arbitrarily in issuing appointment letters for the posts of clerks, patwari, accountant, legal assistant and accounts assistant. "Four members of the Interview Committee constituted for recruitment to the above posts, Himal Akhtar, Rihan Khan Suri, Amjad Khan and Firoz Khan are close to him (AAP MLA) and are from his (Okhla) Assembly Constituency. Not only that, 24 of the 33 employees who have been recruited are also from Okhla Assembly Constituency," a release said. Gupta said that credibility of Delhi Waqf Board Chairman and AAP MLA Khan in the constitution of the committee for the recruitment of staff is questionable as nepotism is clearly visible in recruitment ...
Delhi won't vote for those against sedition law: Harsh Vardhan
Union Minister and BJP candidate from Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said that people of the capital will never vote for a party which promises repeal of the sedition law.