Page 767 - Politics
Armed Forces Tribunal directs Centre to reply in three weeks regarding Vice-Admiral Bimal Verma's plea
The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) on Thursday directed the Central government to submit its response within three weeks in connection with a petition filed by Vice-Admiral Bimal Verma challenging the appointment of his junior Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next Navy Chief.Talking to ANI, the lawyers representing Verma, Ankur Chhibber and Verma's daughter Rhea Verma said, "The court took the matter today and directed the government to submit its reply in three weeks time. The Government has told the court that it will reply in four weeks regarding the appeal filed on April 23, seeking to stay the government order of March 23 to appoint Karambir Singh as the next Navy Chief instead of him."Rhea said, "The Central Government has to positively decide on this complaint by May 15. The matter is now listed for May 20."Chhibber said, "We filed the statutory complaint on April 10 which was received by the government on April 11. We requested the Central government to decide the matter ...
Congress fields Ajay Rai in Varanasi
The Congress on Thursday announced the candidature of former MLA Ajay Rai from Varanasi to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the prestigious constituency.
China says navy warned off French warship in Taiwan Strait
China said Thursday its navy warned off a French warship that had entered the Taiwan Strait earlier this month, and lodged an official protest over the rare move by a European power. Beijing sees self-governed and democratic Taiwan as its territory awaiting reunification, and the United States has traditionally been the country that defies that territorial claim by sailing through the strait. But now it is France that has angered China. Chinese defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said the French warship "illegally entered China's territorial waters" on April 7. "The Chinese military sent warships in accordance with the law, in order to identify the French ship, and warn it to sail away," Ren said at a monthly press briefing. "The Chinese side has already made solemn representations to the French side." "The Chinese military is always on high alert and firmly defends the sovereignty and security of the country," he added. Ren did not identify the vessel but a French frigate, the ...
Cong names candidates for 3 West Bengal assembly seats
The Congress on Thursday named three candidates for three assembly seats in West Bengal where bypoll will be held on May 19. The Congress has fielded Alhaj Muzaffar Hussain from Islampur, Rejina Murmu from Habilpur (ST) and Khwaja Ahmed Hussain from Bhatpara. Bypoll to five assembly constituencies of West Bengal will be held on May 19 and votes there will be counted along with those of all Lok Sabha seats, the Election Commission had said. The five assembly seats - Darjeeling, Islampur, Kandi, Habibpur (ST) and Bhatpara - fell vacant after the sitting MLAs resigned following their nomination to contest Lok Sabha elections.
EC issues notice to BJP's Himachal chief
The District Electoral Officer of Mandi on Thursday issued a notice to Himachal Pradesh BJP Chief Satpal Singh Satti over his comment "will chop off hands of those who point fingers at Modi Ji."Satti during a public rally on April 24 stirred controversy after he threatened to chop off the hands of anyone who raises a finger at BJP leaders, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi."Our leaders are sitting on the dais. If anyone dares to raise their finger, we would chop their hands off. We are not nincompoops. We are not a group of stupid people," Satti was heard purportedly saying at an election rally.Earlier, the Election Commission had barred Satti from campaigning for 48 hours last week for his offensive remark on Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Upendra Kushwaha courts controversy, calls BJP double faced
RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha has courted controversy, saying BJP is like the person who plays Sita in ram leela but smokes cigarette backstage.Kushwaha was earlier a minister in the BJP-led NDA government until his party pulled out of the coalition in December 2018."I have seen BJP from inside as I was in the NDA government earlier. In Ram Leela when the curtain rises a person comes dressed as Sita Mata. People who watch Ram Leela bow their heads out of respect, if you go behind curtain the same Sita Ji can be seen smoking a cigarette. This is the face of BJP; full of evils from inside and it projects goodness from the outside," said Kushwaha."Giriraj Singh said that people who don't vote for NDA will be sent to Pakistan. I say that after the formation of the Mahagathbandhan, we will make sure that we will send them to the desert and see how they send us to Pakistan," the RLSP leader warned.In the campaign for the 2014 general elections in Jharkhand, BJP leader Giriraj Singh had said .
With full statehood promise, AAP releases Delhi manifesto
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday released the party's Delhi manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, with a promise to secure "full statehood" for the national capital.
Combined opposition will form govt: Cong leader Veerappa Moily
A government of combined opposition parties, which consider the BJP as a "common enemy", is a "certainty" after Lok Sabha elections, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said Thursday. He said the Congress prospects are "looking up very well" and it's quite evident from "desperate action, mood and statements" particularly from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and "his followers". The former Union Minister declined to say how many seats the Congress would get in the Lok Sabha elections but said the BJP-led NDA would not get majority to form the government. "Congress and 'other people', either pre-poll alliance or post-poll alliance, (forming government) will be a certainty," Moily told PTI. "I don't think the BJP has any leeway to launch their comeback," he said. On regional parties such as the TRS, YSRCP, SP, BSP, BJD and Trinamool Congress which are not aligned with the Congress-led UPA or NDA projected in some quarters to do well in the polls, he asked: "Ultimately, question is who ..
Are terrorists your relatives? Amit Shah asks Rahul, Mayawati and Akhilesh
Highlighting the airstrike carried by the Indian Air Force on JeM camp in Pakistan's Balakot, BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi, BSP supremo Mayawati and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav and asked them whether they were related to terrorists.While addressing a rally here, Shah said when the airstrike was carried out, the whole country was celebrating it, however, there was mourning in two places - one in Pakistan and the other in offices of Rahul, Mayawati and Akhilesh."Mujhe maloom nahi padta, aatankwadi Pakistan ke mare, inke chehre ka nor kyo chala gaya? Kyo bhai ye chachere-mamere bhai lagte hai kya apke? Apke chehre ka nor chala gaya (I don't underway why they got sad when Pakistan's terrorists were killed)," Shah said."We belong to the BJP and Narendra Modi is our Prime Minister, we can't do 'ILU-ILU' with terrorists. Nobody can play with the security of this nation," he added.Amit Shah also criticised Rahul Gandhi for staying mum on National ...
Mandi district electoral officer issues notice to BJP's Himachal chief
The District Electoral Officer of Mandi on Thursday issued a notice to Himachal Pradesh BJP Chief Satpal Singh Satti over his comment "will chop off hands of those who point fingers at Modi Ji."Satti during a public rally on April 24 stirred controversy after he threatened to chop off the hands of anyone who raises a finger at BJP leaders, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi."Our leaders are sitting on the dais. If anyone dares to raise their finger, we would chop their hands off. We are not nincompoops. We are not a group of stupid people," Satti was heard purportedly saying at an election rally.Earlier, the Election Commission had barred Satti from campaigning for 48 hours last week for his offensive remark on Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Modi backs use of national security in poll;says rooting out
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday slammed the opposition for criticising ruling NDA for raking national security issue in election and asserted that rooting out terror is crucial to alleviation of poverty. The PM underlined national security as an important issue since the money spent on internal security could be better utilized for uplifting the conditions of the poor. He rejected the Congress claims of having waived farmers loans in states ruled by it and promise of doing the same across the country if voted to power and alleged that no poor dalit or adivasi gained from the loan waiver and only their "chela chapaati" (cronies) enjoyed the benefits. Modi mocked at regional satraps nursing prime ministerial ambitions by contesting only 40, 20 or even as in the case of Karnataka a mere eight Lok Sabha seats. They (the opposition) say, why does Modi keep on talking about terrorism? It is not an issue. The voters understand that national security and terrorism is an .
Modi, Rahul to address rallies in Maharashtra on Friday
With just three days to go for the campaigning to end for the fourth and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will address public meetings in Maharashtra on Friday. While Modi will address a rally at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai Friday evening, Gandhi will speak in Sinnar in Nashik district around the same time. In Maharashtra, the Congress president has so far addressed rallies in Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur, Nanded and held an interactive session with students in Pune. When asked if the Congress central leadership had ignored Maharashtra and Mumbai as far as campaigning is concerned, the party's Mumbai unit chief Milind Deora told PTI, "That's not true. Maharashtra has a huge Congress presence and some of the most influential Congress leaders have come to the state for campaigning." "Congress president has a close watch on Maharashtra affairs and has given a very senior and seasoned ...
AAP releases LS poll manifesto, primarily focuses on full statehood for Delhi
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday released its election manifesto for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, which is considered as the roadmap for how the party will take the agenda of full statehood to Delhi forward if voted to power.In its manifesto, the party has made several promises like education, health, women safety, jobs, police reforms, zero corruption, pollution, etc.The manifesto titled 'Lekar Rahenge Poorn Rajya' (We Will Take Full Statehood) was released in the presence of AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other senior party leaders here.Speaking at the manifesto launch, Kejriwal said the ongoing election in the country is about saving democracy."2019 polls is about saving the country. If India is safe, parties will be saved. Need to save India from divisive forces. Today India's unity is under threat. BJP has an only one-point manifesto. BJP is fulfiling Pakistan's agenda. BJP's agenda is to divide India on the basis of caste and ...
BJP using Rajbhar's name in canvassing: SBSP
The Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) on Thursday alleged that the BJP was using the name and picture of its chief, Om Prakash Rajbhar, for campaigning in the general election. The SBSP, an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh, is fighting alone in 39 constituencies for the Lok Sabha election after talks with the saffron party fell through. "The BJP is wrongly using the name and picture of party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar in canvassing. In Salempur and Ballia, SBSP candidates are in the fray, but the BJP is using the picture of Rajbhar on its banners and hoardings," SBSP spokesperson Arun Rajbhar said. "This clearly shows that the BJP does not have the support of the people. It wants to take the vote and support of people by using the picture of our party president," Arun Rajbhar pointed out. He claimed that without the support of Om Prakash Rajbhar, the BJP would not be able to sail through the elections and it would face a drubbing once the election ...
Congress betrayed us, says Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav lashed out at the Congress, saying that the Rahul Gandhi-led party betrayed the SP."If there is somebody who has betrayed the Samajwadi Party then it is the Congress," said Yadav at an election rally in Kanpur on Wednesday.Akhilesh's SP had formed an alliance with Congress for the Uttar Pradesh Legislative election in 2017. However, the relations between the two parties soured after they faced a drubbing in the polls."Ye sahi hai ki hamara gathbandhan tha lekin hame nahi pata tha ki Congress mein zyada ghamand hai, gathbandhan kuch nahi hota ghamand zyada badi cheez hai. (It's true that we had formed an alliance, but we didn't know that Congress party is more arrogant. For them arrogance is more important but alliance is nothing)," Akhilesh added.Ahead of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, there was speculation that Congress would stitch an alliance with SP and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh but Akhilesh joined hands with the BSP, ..
Court seeks reply on steps taken to trace those missing in Kedarnath tragedy
The Uttarakhand High Court has sought a reply from the state government within a month on steps taken to trace those who went missing in the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy. Hearing a PIL on Wednesday, Chief Justice Ramesh Rangnathan and Justice Narayan Singh Dhanik directed the Government to file a reply within four weeks listing steps taken by the government to determine whereabouts of those who went missing after the deluge. The Court admitted the PIL for final hearing on Wednesday and directed the state government to file an affidavit detailing steps taken to retrieve the persons or bodies of persons missing since the tragedy. Filed by Delhi resident Ajay Gautam, the PIL had demanded constitution of a special committee to look into whereabouts of disaster victims who continued to be missing more than six years after the tragedy. It was contended in the PIL that in the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy about 4200 people went missing while government statistics show 3,322 missing people. Even then only
Akhilesh, Mayawati, Cong cannot keep country safe: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday claimed that Opposition leaders cannot look after the security of the country properly. Addressing a rally in Ghazipur constituency of Uttar Pradesh, Shah alleged that BSP chief Mayawati and her Samajwadi Party and Congress counterparts, Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, respectively, were upset with the Balakot airstrikes. "These 'mahamilavati' people talk about the country. Akhilesh, Mayawati and Congress cannot keep the country safe," the BJP chief said. Shah said the BJP cannot do 'ilu-ilu' with terrorists, an apparent reference to the popular short form of 'I love you'. "Though it were the terrorists of Pakistan who were killed (in the Balakot airstrikes), but it was an atmosphere of mourning in the offices of Bua (Mayawati, Bhatija (Akhilesh) and Rahul baba," he said. "I could not find out as to why they were so sad. Why were they moving about with a long face? Were those terrorists their maternal or paternal cousins?" Shah asked. He said the ..
Modi to address rally in Ayodhya on May 1
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Ayodhya on May 1, BJP leaders said on Thursday. The holy town has been central to the BJP and its Hindutva affiliates' agitation for a Ram temple at what faithfuls believe to be the birth place of lord Ram. The BJP leaders said the rally will be part of Modi's campaign for the Lok Sabha election. Ayodhya falls under Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, which goes to polls in the fifth phase on May 6.
BJP, RSS imposed 'lajawab neta' upon country: Mayawati
In an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has imposed a "lajawab neta" (wonderful leader) upon the country.In a tweet, Mayawati accused Modi of violating the Model Code of conduct (MCC) and "crossing all limits" when it comes to respecting women."PM Modi is moving freely without care despite facing numerous serious allegations of Model Code of Conduct violation, thanks to the ECI. That's why he has started crossing the limit as far as respect for women is concerned. Haven't BJP/RSS imposed a lajawab neta upon the country?," BSP supremo tweeted in a sarcastic manner.On the BJP-led NDA government's repeated arguments that the Opposition does not have a leader fit for the prime ministerial post, Mayawati accused them of "insulting the masses by claiming that the Oppositions lack leadership for the post of Prime Minister.""Why is BJP & co.
Support Chowkidar to end terrorism: Modi
Urging the people to support the "Chowkidar" in the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said people's one vote can end terrorism in the country.