Page 731 - Politics
BJP picks Parrikar's aide over son for Panaji bypoll
The BJP on Sunday nominated late Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's aide Sidharth Kuncalienkar as its candidate for the Panaji assembly seat bypolls, ignoring the candidature of his son Utpal Parrikar.
Elections in 3 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand on April 29
Over 45.26 lakh voters will on Monday decide the fate of 59 candidates in the first phase of polls for three Lok Sabha constituencies in Jharkhand amidst tight security and air surveillance. The three constituencies, all won by the BJP in 2014 elections, are Lohardaga (ST), Palamu (SC) and Chatra. As there are some Naxal pockets in Palamu and Chatra, the borders with Bihar have been sealed and adequate security arrangements have been made for the polling, an official said. Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer L Khiangte told a press conference here that there are a total 45,26,693 electorate for Lohardaga, Chatra and Palamau Lok Sabha seats and 6,072 polling stations for the three seats going for polls on Monday from 7 am to 4 pm. A total 25,727 polling personnel have reached their polling centres while some personnel deputed at 137 polling stations were airdropped as their destinations are situated in remote areas, he said. Due to security reasons, Khiangte added, a total ..
Sitharaman leaves for Kyrgyzstan to attend SCO defence ministers' meet
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman left for Kyrgyz capital Bishkek on Sunday on a three-day visit to attend a key meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Sitharaman will attend the SCO Defence Ministers' conclave on Monday during which she is likely to press for concerted efforts by the powerful bloc to deal with terrorism and extremism, officials said. She is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with a number of counterparts from the SCO member countries on the sidelines of the conclave, they said. The SCO defence ministers will explore ways to further boost defence and security cooperation among the member countries in the wake of evolving security challenges in the region. India became a full member of the the China-dominated grouping in 2017 and New Delhi's entry into it increased the bloc's heft in regional geo-politics, besides giving it a pan-Asian hue. India is also keen on deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional ...
No nationalist will support Cong after reading its manifesto:
Coming down heavily on the Congress for its promises to amend AFSPA and quash the sedition law, if voted to power, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Sunday said the "hand symbol of the grand old party denotes that it was hand-in-glove with traitors". Addressing a rally in Sheohar Lok Sabha constituency near here, Adityanath claimed that "no nationalist or dignified person" would support the Congress or its allies having gone through its Lok Sabha poll manifesto. "I was shocked to see the Congress manifesto. It said that the party will do away with the sedition law and amend Afspa, the law which gives special power to the army in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast states. It seems 'Congress ka hath hai deshdrohiyon ke sath' (Cong has extended its hand to the traitors of this country)," he insisted. Referring to IAF air strike in Balakot, Adityanath said that the Indian Army always had the courage and valour to carry out such attacks, but the "erstwhile ...
Tiwari holds 10-km roadshow, flays AAP, Congress
Bhojpuri actor and singer Manoj Tiwari, re-contesting the North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat, held a 10-km-long roadshow in his constituency for the second consecutive day on Sunday and accused the Congress and the AAP of helping anti-national forces.
PSOE may win, fall short of majority in Spain
Voters in Spain on Sunday headed to the polls for the third time in four years. The ruling Spanish Socialist Workers party (PSOE) expected to win the general elections but fall short of a majority.
Two govt officials suspended for ransacking DC office in J-K's Kishtwar
Two government officials, including a teacher, were Sunday suspended after they were found part of a mob which vandalized the deputy commissioner's office and damaged two official vehicles in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. Teacher Satya Bushan Sharma and forester Tilak Raj were placed under suspension with immediate effect, while an inquiry has been ordered against them, officials said. The mob on Saturday ransacked a government building housing the office of deputy commissioner, damaged two official vehicles and set ablaze an effigy of Governor Satya Pal Malik during a protest rally against the killing of four people in the town. RSS leader Chandrakant Sharma and his security guard were killed by a militant inside the district hospital on April 9, while state secretary of BJP, Anil Parihar, and his brother Ajeet Parihar were killed in the town on November 1 last year. Deputy Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana ordered immediate suspension of the two officials found involved in ..
Amarinder trashes AAP allegation on bribing MLAs
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday ridiculed allegations made by state Aam Aadmi Party President Bhagwant Mann that the ruling Congress was luring his legislators to join it by offering them crores of rupees and plum posts.
PM taking credit for valour of forces, not accepting responsibility for Pulwama attack: Cong
The Congress Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi took credit for the valour of the armed forces, but his government was not ready to accept responsibility for the Pulwama terror attack. Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also alleged that when the entire country was in shock over the terror attack, the prime minister was busy shooting a film in Jim Corbett national park. "The prime minister is taking credit for the valour of defence forces for votes... Why doesn't he accept responsibility and failure of his government, national security advisor, home ministry and intelligence even three months after the terrorist attack?" he said a press conference here. Surjewala also sought to know why was Jaish-e-Mohammed threat video released 48 hours before the terrorist attack overlooked and from where did terrorists get such a huge quantity of explosive materials, carbines and rocket launchers. "Why was J&K Police input released on February 8 on terrorist attack overlooked and the ...
For silent majority of Kashmiris, saving Art 370 is a non-issue: state BJP
Claiming that the majority of people in Jammu and Kashmir want early abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that accords special status to the state, the BJP Sunday said the government is working for "total amalgamation" of Kashmiris with the country. The state unit of the BJP made the claim while launching a blistering attack against National Conference top leadership for terming the BJP-RSS a "grater threat to the state than Pakistan". "NC vice president Omar (Abdullah) is unhappy because the BJP is assuring the abolition of Article 370, the demand of crore of Indians, but (he) is perfectly comfortable with Pakistan," said state BJP spokesperson Brig (Retd) Anil Gupta. Claiming that for the people of Jammu and Ladakh and a "silent majority" in Kashmir, saving Article 370 is a "non-issue", Gupta said, "They want its early abrogation so that they can benefit from the economic boom in India, the world's fastest growing economy." "Their only hope lies in the BJP. They are sure ...
China's Xi urges India, Pakistan to mend ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday appealed to Pakistan and India to mend their ties, ruptured after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama by a Pakistan-based terror outfit early this year.
Atishi writes to EC seeking campaign ban on Gautam Gambhir
Aam Aadmi Party's East Delhi candidate Atishi Marlena Sunday wrote to the Election Commission, seeking a 72-hour campaign ban on BJP nominee from the seat Gautam Gambhir for holding a rally without permission. In the letter, Atishi said this is Gambhir's second model code of conduct violation in the last three days, which makes him a "repeat offender". On Saturday, the East Delhi returning officer had asked police to file a complaint against Gambhir for holding a public meeting in Jangpura allegedly without permission. "Election Commission ordered registration of FIR for his first violation but that seems to have no effect on him and he continues to wilfully violate the model code of conduct showing his utter disregard for Election Commission," she said in the letter. "In the light of repeated wilful violation. I request you to register FIR against him and bar him from campaigning for 72 hours. I hope that you will not only act swiftly on my complaint but act in a manner that serves a
Khattar, Hooda in war of words during campaign trail in Sonipat
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said Congress leaders were "avoiding" seeking votes in the name of their party president Rahul Gandhi for fear of losing. In a war of words, Khattar's predecessor and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda alleged the BJP is asking for votes in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the party had nothing to show for its performance. Both separately addressed gatherings during campaigning in Kharkhoda here. Hooda, the sitting MLA from Rohtak district, who is Congress' Lok Sabha candidate from here, is taking on ruling BJP's sitting MP Ramesh Chander Kaushik and JJP's Digvijay Chautala, among others. Khattar claimed that Congressmen were "avoiding" seeking votes in the name of their party president Rahul Gandhi, and said instead they were seeking votes in the name of their party or on other grounds. "They are avoiding seeking votes in his (Rahul's) name," Khattar said. The chief minister said for the first time the country .
Himachal CM Thakur harps removal of Article 370
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said, here on Sunday, if voted to power again at the Centre, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would scrap Article 370.
Articles 370, 35A should be reviewed, scrapped: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday said Articles 370 and 35A should be seriously reviewed and scrapped. While Article 370 gives autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, Article 35A allows the Himalayan state's legislature to define permanent residents of the state. Speaking at a voters' awareness programme here, Singh attacked National Conference leader Omar Abdullah for his recent remarks that there should be a separate prime minister for Kashmir. "When a person, who has occupied a Constitutional post says such things, then Articles 370 and 35A should be seriously reviewed. Since these (provisions) have mostly caused losses, Articles 370 and 35A should be scrapped." Singh said, "There is a conspiracy in Jammu and Kasmir. Some organisations want to kindle the feelings of separatism among the people, but majority want to stay with India. Barring three-four organisations, the rest are with India" The Lok Sabha MP praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi. International Monetary Fund has
Law and order situation reviewed in JK's Kishtwar after mob violence
Senior civil and police officers Sunday visited Kishtwar town of Jammu and Kashmir and reviewed the law and order situation in the aftermath of the recent killing of a senior RSS leader and vandalization of public property by a mob, officials said. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma along with Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, M K Sinha reached Kishtwar Sunday morning and convened a joint meeting with senior officers of civil and police administration, Army and CRPF to review the present law and order situation in the district, the officials said. A mob Saturday ransacked a government building housing the office of deputy commissioner, damaged two parked official vehicles and set ablaze an effigy of Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik during a protest rally against the killings of four people over the past five months. RSS leader Chandrakant Sharma and his security guard were killed by a militant inside the district hospital on April 9, while state secretary .
Modi has shown he is a man with 56-inch chest with anti-terror strikes: Amit Shah
BJP chief Amit Shah Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown he is a man with a "56-inch chest" by destroying terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. Shah said all anti-national elements will end up behind bars once the Modi government returns to power, as he hit out at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for what he described as his "temerity" to promise scrapping of the sedition law. Addressing back-to-back election rallies in Bihar's Sitamarhi and Saran, which will be voting in the fifth phase of national polls on May 6, Shah drew a contrast between Modi and Gandhi, claiming that the prime minister has been working "tirelessly for the past 20 years" unlike the Congress chief "who needs a prolonged holiday every few months". Lambasting the Congress-led UPA for its "inadequate response" to the beheading of Lance Naik Hemraj six years ago, Shah said, "When militants backed by Pakistan dared to attack the Uri army camp, we gave a befitting reply with surgical strikes." "They did not learn ...
Disagree with Pragya's comments on Karkare, says Athawale
Union Minister and RPI (A) chief Ramdas Athawale Sunday said he disagreed with BJP Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur's comment on former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare, adding that his party would never have given her a ticket. Thakur had earlier said that Karkare was killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack as she had "cursed" him for "torturing" her while he was probing the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Thakur is an accused in the Malegaon blast case and is currently out on bail. "Karkare was martyred while fighting terrorists to save people. I do not agree with Sadhvi's statement on Karkare. We condemn it. It is for the court to decide what is right and what is wrong," he told reporters here. "If left to our party, we would not have fielded her," he added. Speaking about the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, Athawale, minister of state for social justice and empowerment at the Centre, said the NDA would win 350 seats. He said, post victory, he ..
East Delhi's BJP, AAP nominee slam each other
East Delhi candidates of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked each other on Sunday over their vision for the Lok Sabha constituency.
UAE to deposit USD 250 mn in Sudan's central bank
The United Arab Emirates announced Sunday it would deposit USD 250 million in Sudan's central bank as part of a support package for the country following the overthrow of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir. The government-owned Abu Dhabi Fund for Development signed an agreement with the Sudanese central bank "confirming the deposit", the UAE's official WAM news agency said. Last week, Saudi Arabia and the UAE announced three billion dollars (2.7 billion euros) in financial aid for Sudan. The oil-rich Gulf states pledged to inject USD 500 million into the Sudanese central bank and USD 2.5 billion to help provide food, medicine and petroleum products, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The deposit for the central bank was aimed at shoring up the Sudanese pound, the SPA said. In recent years Sudan has been hit by an acute lack of dollars, a key factor behind the nationwide protests that led to the toppling of Bashir by the army this month. Sudan plays a key role in the regional .