Page 736 - Politics

Musharraf unlikely to return to Pakistan

Following an announcement that former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will appear before a special court on May 2, it was learnt that he might not return to the country because of his medical boards recommendation and family pressure not to do so.

After Shatrughan Sinha, Majeed Memon lauds Jinnah

After Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon on Sunday lauded Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah for his contribution in the freedom struggle and said that BJP president Amit Shah dubbed Sinha, "anti-national" as Jinnah was a Muslim.On being asked to respond on Sinha's statement "from Mahatma Gandhi to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, all part of Congress parivar", Memon told ANI, "Amit Shah should note that till yesterday he (Shatrughan Sinha) was with them, if he said something anti-national then it is their teaching."He added, "He (Jinnah) made a big contribution to the freedom struggle, just because he was a Muslim you are offended and are calling Shatrughan Sinha anti-national."The actor-turned-politician courted controversy for saying that "from Mahatma Gandhi to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, all are part of Congress Parivar."Sinha during a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara had lauded Muhammad Ali Jinnah along with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar

Congress 'fauji' battles BJP's 'fauji' in Shimla

It's an ex-serviceman versus an ex-serviceman from Himachal Pradesh's Shimla (reserved) seat. Both are aiming guns loaded with political salvoes and firing at each other.

Dynasty politics: 8 grandchildren, great grand sons and sons of former CMs to test electoral waters

A platform for dynastic politics for decades, Haryana is seeing many political families in fray this time too as grandchildren of four former chief ministers, two great grandsons and sons of political bigwigs are trying their luck. Political families including Chautalas, Bishnois and Hoodas are in fray every election in Haryana, a Jat-dominated state. However, the grandchildren of the four former chief ministers including Bhajan Lal, Chaudhary Devi Lal, Om Prakash Chautala and Bansi Lal, say they are not contesting the elections riding on the popularity of their families but on basis of the work done in their constituencies. While the Congress has fielded Bansi Lal's granddaughter Shruti Chaudhary from Bhiwani-Mahendargarh constituency, Bhavya Bishnoi, grandson of Bhajan Lal and son of Kuldip Bishnoi is the party's candidate from Hisar. Chaudhary, a former MP from the Bhiwani-Mahendargarh constituency, told PTI, Coming from a politically influential family does come with its benefits

How can full statehood be given to Kejriwal with 'dubious' character: Vardhan

Refuting the ruling AAP's demand for full statehood to Delhi, Union minister and BJP's Chandni Chowk candidate Harsh Vardhan wondered whether statehood could be given to a chief minister like Arvind Kejriwal with "dubious and questionable character". In an interview to PTI, Vardhan, who is contesting for the second time from Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat, asserted that the national capital was suffering due to the AAP government's "negative mentality". He said the Kejriwal-led government has done nothing for the people, except "wasting time in abusing the Prime Minister". "Delhi is suffering because of the negative mentality of its government and the chief minister in particular. They have hardly done anything in the last four years. You can see their 70 promises and find there is hardly any promise that has been delivered," the minister said. "They have not done anything except wasting their time and abusing the Prime Minister day in and day out. What has Delhi Chief Minister Arvind .

BJP intensifies poll campaign in Delhi

With less than 15 days to go to for the May 12 Lok Sabha elections in the national capital, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday intensified their poll campaign here.

Rajasthan: District administration organises voter awareness programme in Jhalawar

The Jhalawar district administration held a voter awareness programme here in an effort to encourage voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers.The voter awareness programme was held for the Bohra community in the town.The administration has roped in girls to create awareness among the people to cast their votes.Authorities also apprised the benefits of voting to lactating and pregnant mothers. These women will be helped by Anganwadi workers at the time of voting, while specially abled-people will be helped by volunteers to exercise their franchise.The administration said that potable water units would be set up at polling booths for the convenience of the people."We have started a programme for the Bohra community on voting. We have given a message to these people that everyone should exercise their franchise. We are hopeful that there will be 100 per cent voting here," Inderjeet Singh Rai, collector, told ANI.There are 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan. Polling in ...

DMK former Rajya Sabha member Vasanthi Stanley dead

DMK's former Rajya Sabha member Vasanthi Stanley has died after a brief illness.

After Shatrughan Sinha, Majeed Memon lauds Jinnah, calls him big contributor in freedom struggle

After Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon on Sunday lauded Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah for his contribution in the freedom struggle and said that BJP president Amit Shah dubbed Sinha, "anti-national" as Jinnah was a Muslim.On being asked to respond on Sinha's statement "from Mahatma Gandhi to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, all part of Congress parivar", Memon told ANI, "Amit Shah should note that till yesterday he (Shatrughan Sinha) was with them, if he said something anti-national then it is their teaching."He added, "He (Jinnah) made a big contribution to the freedom struggle, just because he was a Muslim you are offended and are calling Shatrughan Sinha anti-national."The actor-turned-politician courted controversy for saying that "from Mahatma Gandhi to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, all are part of Congress Parivar."Sinha during a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara had lauded Muhammad Ali Jinnah along with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar

I'm an ordinary and foolish creature: Uma Bharti on being compared to Sadhvi Pragya

Union Minister and BJP leader Uma Bharti on Saturday urged people to not compare her with Bhopal BJP candidate and Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and called herself "an ordinary and foolish creature".Asked if Thakur will take her place in Madhya Pradesh politics, Uma Bharti told media here, "She is a great saint, don't compare me with her, I am just an ordinary and foolish creature."BJP has fielded Thakur against Congress' Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal seat.Voting in Bhopal will take place on May 12. The counting of votes will be held on May 23.

Multi-layered security for phase II polls in Anantnag

Heavy deployments of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and police were on Sunday made to ensure peaceful and fair poll process for the second phase of polls in Anantnag Lok Sabha seat of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

2018 Panchayat election was turning point in history of WB politics, says BJP leader Ramprasad Das

Bolpur (West Bengal ) April 28: Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) candidate from Birbhum, Ramprasad Das said 2018 Panchayat elections proved to be a turning point in the history of West Bengal politics.Talking to ANI, Das said, "Last year's Panchayat election was a turning point in the history of West Bengal politics and no one can deny it. It was a blunder by TMC. In 2018 the ruling party became doubtful of their victory and they forced the opposition to not file their nominations."On the condition of anonymity, a resident from Birbhum district said, "We never miss our vote but we are afraid. The situation which Bengal went through during Panchayat poll was fearful, however, the presence of central force this time is definitely a feel-good factor."CPM candidate Ramchandra Dome said, "People are worried in Bengal. The way Panchayat elections were held in 2018, people doubt whether they would be able to cast their vote successfully or not, this time.""TMC played a role in bringing BJP here ..

Congress to blame if BJP returns to power: Sisodia

The Congress is weakening the Opposition across the country, senior leader of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has said against the backdrop of a failed attempt at stitching an pre-poll alliance between the two parties.

BJP MP slams Congress over open defecation

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Rajveer Singh on Saturday took a controversial jibe at Rahul Gandhi and said that the Congress president would have known the importance of building toilets if his grandmother (Indira Gandhi) and mother (Sonia Gandhi) had faced the problem of open defecation."Congress keh rahi hai shauchalay ki baat kar rahe hain, bada chhota dimag hai. Rahul ji agar tumhari dadi aur tumhari amma khet mein lota leke gayi hoti to malum pad jata," Singh said while addressing a rally in Mahoba.Rajveer Singh is BJP's candidate from the Etah Lok Sabha seat.The fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections will be held on Monday. The result will be announced on May 23.

Would not have needed surgical strikes if Sadhvi cursed Masood Azhar: Digvijaya

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday took a swipe at opponent and BJP candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur stating that there would have been no need of surgical strikes if she had cursed Pakistan based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar.Addressing an election rally here at Ashoka Gardens, Singh said: "Thakur says she had cursed ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who had given supreme sacrifice for the country and is considered a martyr. There would have been no need of surgical strikes if she had cursed Pakistan based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar."Taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the senior Congress leader said: "Prime Minister had said that terrorists were hunted even when they were hiding in hell. But I want to ask him where was he when Pulwama, Pathankot and Uri attacks happened in the country. Why we were not able to get rid of such attacks?"Digvijaya Singh further said that Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Christians are brothers. "These people ..

SAD, BJP talk about demolishing people's houses; Cong offering AAP MLAs crores to defect: Bhagwat Mann

Punjab AAP president Bhagwat Mann on Saturday hit out at the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) alleging that the two parties talked about demolishing the houses of people of Punjab as opposed to his party that was concerned about building people houses.The AAP leader also targetted the Congress alleging that Congress leaders were offering legislators of his party crores of rupees to defect."BJP and SAD talk about demolishing the houses of people of Punjab while AAP party talks about constructing your house," Mann, who is also the MP from Sangrur, said here."Akali, BJP and Congress talk about building cremation grounds but we talk about making government schools and building proper schools," he added.Mann further accused Akali and Congress of eliminating Punjab's youth."Akali and Congress have eliminated Punjab's youth. These two parties have a lot of money in their accounts that cannot be even counted. Congress has offered crores of rupees to our MLAs but we want to work for the ...

50 turmeric farmers from Telangana arrive in Varanasi to file nominations, contest against PM Modi

A group of 50 turmeric farmers from Telangana's Nizamabad arrived in Varanasi on Saturday to file their nomination as independent candidates to contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections."We are not opposing anyone. We just want to highlight our problems and demand creation of a turmeric board and Minimum Support Price of Rs 15000 per quintal (MSP) for turmeric," a spokesperson for the farmers said while speaking to ANI.Alleging that their problems were not addressed under both the ruling BJP government and UPA government, a farmer said: "This was not solved during UPA's tenure too, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did the same. We are not against him or campaigning against anyone."Turmeric farmers across the country are facing hardships due to famine conditions and lack of MSP for the last three to four years. This year, turmeric prices have fallen to Rs 3,200 per quintal from Rs 5,200 per quintal.On April 26, Prime Minister Modi had filed his ...

'Darbar move' begins in Jammu, Secretariat to open in Srinagar in May

The annual 'Durbar Move' under which the Jammu and Kashmir government moves to the summer capital of Srinagar for six months has commenced in the state.All the move offices including the civil secretariat and the Raj Bhavan closed in Jammu on Saturday and is set to reopen in Srinagar on May 6 or May 7, according to officials.The 'darbar move' of shifting of the capital every six months is a unique feature of Jammu and Kashmir and a practice that has been in vogue since the time of the Maharajahs.Charanjeet, a local resident said that the move has been in place since the time the state was ruled by Maharajahs.The specific practice is said to have begun in the year 1872 by Maharajah Gulab Singh and formally initiated by his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh who took the Durbar (Royal Court) to Kashmir for the six months of summer in 1883 in order to escape the sweltering heat of Jammu. The practice has continued even after Independence.Voluminous government records and employees of the move ...

SAD delegation meets CEC, alleges Congress' Raja Warring bribed voters

A Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) delegation on Saturday met Punjab Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to demand an FIR against Bathinda Congress candidate Amarinder Singh Raja Warring for allegedly trying to bribe voters.The SAD delegation led by party's senior vice president Daljit Singh Cheema claimed that they have video evidence against Warring, who is a sitting legislator of the ruling Congress in Punjab.On the basis of the video evidence, Cheema not only asked for his immediate arrest but also urged the CEO to cancel his disqualification from the Lok Sabha elections. Cheema said that the party has submitted a formal representation to Punjab CEO Dr S Karuna Raju."Warring had not only violated the poll conduct but had also indulged in corrupt practices as per Section 123 of the Representation of People's Act, 1950 and Representation of People's Act, 1951," Cheema said."In the bribery video, one can see social worker Tinku Punjab of Budhlada town telling Raja Warring to take back Rs ...

US needs to prove it's serious on prisoner swap: Iran FM Zarif

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday said that the United States needs to prove its seriousness on prisoner exchange before the two countries can begin negotiations.Zarif made the comment in an interview with CBS's 'Face the Nation' show where host Margaret Brennan asked him whether he would, "as a show of...seriousness" release some of the at least five Americans who are incarcerated in Iran.On Wednesday, the Foreign Minister, in a diplomatic overture amid a worsening relationship with Washington, publicly proposed to negotiate a prisoner exchange between the two countries, saying he had been authorised to conduct such talks.During the interview, Zarif said that many Iranians are imprisoned in the US for violating sanctions, adding that the Trump administration already aware of which prisoners Iran would like in return for American prisoners in Iran being released."I am responsible for foreign policy. I'm not responsible for interfering in court's decisions. I can