Page 756 - Politics

Congress, AAP candidates file papers for Panaji bypoll

Congress candidate Atanasio Monserrate and Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Valmiki Naik filed their nominations for the upcoming Panaji bypoll on Friday.

Trump says Xi Jinping will visit White House soon

US President Donald Trump has said that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, would be coming to the White House soon, fuelling anticipation that the worlds two largest economies may be close to completing a trade deal.

Belt and Road Initiative not an exclusive club, says Chinese President Xi Jinping

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not an exclusive club, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, adding that the project would not solely serve the Chinese interest, but benefit "all of its participants.""The belt and road is not an exclusive club. It aims to enhance the connectivity and practical cooperation (of the participating countries)... delivering a win-win outcome and common development," South China Morning Post quoted Xi as saying in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRFIC) in Beijing on Friday.In his speech, Xi also stressed on green growth, besides unveiling a series of projects on financing, technology transfer, poverty reduction, and other areas.The address was made in the presence of 37 heads of state or government, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.The Belt and Road Forum was boycotted by India for the ..

Parkash Singh Badal compares PM Modi-Rahul election battle to one between elephant, ant

In the wake of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal upped the ante by comparing the battle between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi to one between an elephant and ant.Speaking to ANI in Varanasi on Friday, the 91-old-leader said, "People of India need to think who they want as their Prime Minister? Who can fight Modi in a battle? This Gandhi? That would be like a battle between an elephant and an ant. That will be the extent of difference between the two."When asked about the United Opposition (Mahagathbandhan) fighting against the BJP, Badal said, "Mahagathbatdhan can also break. Loop by loop the knots can be loosened. They are yet to decide how many prime ministerial candidates will be there."Talking about his alliance with the BJP, Badal said that his political quarter in the past and in the present will continue to support BJP."Shiromani Akali Dal is one of oldest political parties of India. We do not have a

Sitaram Yechury compares Modi, Shah with Duryodhana, Dushasana

Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Sitaram Yechury drew a comparison between Hindu mythology characters Duryodhana and Dushasana and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.Calling Modi and Shah as the "Duryodhana and Dushasana" of political Mahabharat, Yechury on Thursday said, "Out of 100 Kauravas, you just remember the name of two brothers Duryodhana and Dushasana. In the world's biggest party, how many names do you remember? Modi-Amit Shah. What Kauravas faced in Mahabharata, the same situation is now panning out in political Mahabharat here."In the Lok Sabha Elections 2014, the Trinamool Congress had bagged 34 out of the 42 Parliamentary seats in the state.West Bengal, which has 42 seats at stake, is undergoing polling during all seven phases of Lok Sabha elections. Voting is taking place at five Lok Sabha seats on Tuesday. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Congress's Monserratte files nomination for Panaji bypoll

Congress candidate Atanasio Monserratte Friday filed his nomination for the next month's bypoll in the Panaji Assembly constituency. Monserratte, accompanied by Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar and other Congress functionaries, submitted his nomination papers to the District Returning officer here. The former state minister is the first candidate to file the nomination for the May 19 by-election to the Panaji seat, which fell vacant due to the death of sitting MLA and then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on March 17. Talking to reporters, Kavlekar said the Congress is confident of wresting the seat from the BJP. "People are supporting the Congress party in a big way and you will see the impact even in the Panaji by-poll," he said. Monserratte, who was vice-president of the Goa Forward Party, resigned from the regional outfit to join the Congress earlier this month. The BJP is yet to announce its candidate for the Panaji constituency. The ruling party has ...

Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi joins BJP

Popular Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi on Friday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of BJP North West Delhi candidate Hans Raj Hans and union minister Vijay Goel.Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari and cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir were also present at the event when 'Tunak tunak tun' singer joined the party.Daler Mehndi's daughter is married to a son of Hans Raj Hans.A few days ago, the party has also given a ticket to Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans to contest Lok Sabha polls from the North West Delhi constituency. Hans has replaced MP Udit Raj.

JJP's Naina Chautala terms BJP's Sirsa candidate Sunita Duggal 'barsati mendak'

Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala's mother and JJP MLA Naina Chautala launched a sharp attack on Sunita Duggal, the BJP candidate from the Sirsa Lok Sabha seat, terming her a "barsati mendak" (seasonal politician) who would not be seen once the polls are over. The 51-year-old MLA from Dabwali in Sirsa district further said Duggal (51), the bureaucrat-turned-politician, had mostly spent her life "sitting in air conditioned rooms and does not know what the life in villages is like". Reacting to the barb, Duggal said, "frogs (mendak) eat mosquitoes, at least they do some good. But I want to tell her (Naina) that they (the Chautalas) are crocodiles who looted Sirsa". When asked who is her nearest rival, Duggal replied, "There is no competition, it is a one-sided race". Polling for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held in the sixth phase on May 12. Naina Chautala was here to campaign for Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) candidate Nirmal Singh Malhadi fielded against BJP's Duggal and Congress' .

Parrikar's mentor takes on BJP in Panaji by-election

Former Goa RSS chief Subhash Velingkar, who groomed top state BJP leaders for decades including late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, on Friday announced his candidature for the Panaji Assembly by-election.

Lok Sabha elections 2019: Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi joins BJP

Famous Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi's daughter is married to a son of Hans

Kanhaiya Kumar, Tanveer Hassan not my competition: Giriraj Singh

Begusarai (Bihar) [India] Apr 26 (ANI): Union Minister and BJP candidate from Begusarai, Giriraj Singh, who is contesting against the CPI's Kanhaiya Kumar and RJD's Tanveer Hassan, said that he considers Kumar and Hassan as his competition."I don't see any competition here, I myself am competition. My fight is to make people aware of distorted sentiments of RJD, Congress and the Communist party in Begusarai," Singh asserted. "Begusarai's public has bore the brunt of violent revolutions in the past concerning land-grabbing and industrial lockouts. The more I make people aware of the nefarious designs of the opposition, the victory will be greater," he added.Slamming Congress president Rahul Gandhi he said, "Rahul Gandhi realised that he will lose Amethi seat and that's why he decided to fight from Kerala's Wayanad. There was not a single Congress party's flag during his nomination filing process, a green flag with half moon in the corner was there like he filed his nominations from ...

PM did nothing for water scarce Bundelkhand: Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing nothing for the "thirsty" Bundelkhand region of the state. The SP chief also dubbed Yogi Adityanath as "baba chief minister" and said that till yesterday he had faith in 'babas' but after non-fulfilment of promises by UP government, he was not sure. Addressing an election rally here, Yadav said, "Sometime ago the prime minister had come here and told a story about Kutch region of Gujarat which faced water problem and said life there has changed...the reality (here) is that he has done nothing for thirsty Bundelkhand". "Have you all forgotten about promises made in 2014 elections...I want to ask the people of Jhansi and nearby places as to what change has come in your lives in the past five years," he asked. Taking a dig at local MP Uma Bharti, who is not in poll fray this time, Yadav said ,"Remember she headed the department related to water...she had responsibility of Ganga cleaning...had ..

J&K orders transfer of three senior police officers

After obtaining mandatory permission from the Election Commission, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday ordered the transfer of three senior police officers.

Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu writes to the ECI requesting action against CEO

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday accused the Andhra Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of transferring Director General (DG) Intelligence, Superintendents of Police of various districts and the Chief Secretary without consulting the state government.A letter written by Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu to the Election Commission of India (ECI) reads, "Whether it is unilateral transfer of the DG Intelligence (who was also in charge of the security of Honourable CM's Z plus security) or the unilateral transfer of Superintendents of Police of various districts or the transfer of Chief Secretary without seeking a panel from the state government, the ECI acted on the frivolous and frequent complaints by office bearers of opposition party in AP i.e. YSRCP."The CM also accused the CEO of obstructing the state government administration in the post-election period by issuing statements in the media that the CM does not have the right to oversee ...

First time there is a pro-incumbency wave in India: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said it is for the first time in the history of independent India that a pro-incumbency wave has enveloped the nation."Several polls have taken place in our country, but after this election, the political pundits will be baffled because it is for the first time in the history of independent India, that the wave of pro-incumbency has enveloped the nation," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while interacting with his party cadres in Varanasi on Friday.He also lauded the party workers and said it for their hard work that people of the nation are saying "phir ek baar Modi sarkar.""The massive turn out in yesterday's road show was an example of your (BJP workers) hardwork. We have won the Varanasi yesterday, now we have to win polling booths set up across the constituency. I have never let my inner worker die. I am equally vigilant in my responsibility as a Prime Minister, an MP and a BJP worker," the Prime Minister further stated."I am proud of our

Vote to make democracy stronger, says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday thanked the people of Varanasi after filing his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections from here and urged voters to exercise their franchise to strengthen democracy.

PM expresses gratitude to people of Kashi, urges them to vote in huge number

After filing his nomination from Varanasi parliamentary constituency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed gratitude to people of temple city for blessing him even after five years and urged voters to cast vote on the polling day."I thank residents of Varanasi for their support. Thankful for the love I got. I deeply express gratitude towards people of Kashi. They have again blessed me after five years. Such a grand roadshow yesterday was possible only in Kashi. I urge all the voters to cast their respective votes. Come out and vote in huge numbers," Modi told reporters here.The Prime Minister also urged people to not believe anyone who discourages them from exercising their franchise.He added, "Some are making an atmosphere that Modi has already won, so it would be fine if you don't cast your vote. I request you all to not fall for it. Voting is your right, this is a festival of democracy, one should vote to make democracy stronger. I urge all the people not to believe ...

Modi files nomination from Varanasi, NDA stands in support

Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination papers for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on Friday.

Govt. should take responsibility for Easter Sunday attack, says Sri Lankan President

Government should take responsibility for the Easter Sunday attacks, as well as for weakening country's intelligence services, said Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday.Speaking at a press conference here, Sirisena additionally asserted that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara will step down from the post today, reported Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).The development has come after the Sri Lankan President on Wednesday sought the resignation of Defense Minister Hemasiri Fernando, along with the IGP, amid the reports of mounting criticism against the government over its failure to curtail the massacre, despite a detailed warning.Following this, Hemasiri Fernando stepped down from the post yesterday.CNN reported that warnings were shared with Sri Lankan security services, including one memo addressed to the IGP, prior to the attacks. However, no measures were taken to thwart the deadly attacks which killed more than 350 people, including 10 Indians.On April

Development through BRI can be a major blow to extremist terror in Pak, Afghanistan: Iran FM Zarif

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative can help bring economic development to areas in its region and also deal a major blow to extremist terror in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The minister said that much of the terrorism in this particular region, including from Chabahar in Iran to the Pakistani port of Gwadar, which also connects to Afghanistan, is due to lack of economic development. "So if we can develop, through the Belt and Road Initiative, those areas, we have dealt a major blow to extremist terror in Pakistan, foreign-sponsored (terrorism) in parts of Iran, and in Afghanistan," he said during a talk at Asia Society here Wednesday. Terming the BRI initiative as a strategic initiative for China, he said that President Xi (Jinping) has put it on top of his priorities, and "we consider that to be positive. (They are) investing a great deal in the region, they have a number of projects in Iran including industrial and transit .