Page 771 - Politics
Cong slams Modi for jibe at opposition over concerns about EVMs
The Congress Wednesday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a dig at opposition parties over their concerns about EVMs, saying such a comment can be made only by those who do not believe in democracy. Modi, while addressing a rally in Jharkhand's Lohardaga, said the Congress-led opposition, which has been "hurling abuse" at him, was now talking ill of the EVMs after realising the "trend" of three rounds of voting in the general election, "just like a child who makes excuses to justify his under performance in exams". Reacting to the Prime Minister's remarks, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Only Prime Minister Modi can give such an irresponsible statement. Should there be fair elections in a democracy or not? Should every person in the democracy have his right to vote or not? Should the vote of every person be counted in the account of the candidate for whom the person has voted? "And if any doubt arises, then it should be cleared or it should be ...
High command will take decision on Vikhe Patil: Chavan
The party'shigh command will decide what action should be taken against senior leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan said Wednesday. Vikhe Patil has not campaigned for the Congress in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections despite being in the list of the party's 'star campaigners', Chavan said, speaking to reporters here. "Vikhe Patil did not campaign and did not work for us. The party high command has been apprised of these issues. (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi is fully aware of this and he will take appropriate action at the right time," Chavan said. Vikhe Patil's son Sujay joined the BJP on March 12 and the saffron party fielded him from Ahmednagar constituency. Asked about the change of guard in the Mumbai Congress unit in the run-up to the polls, Chavan said it will help the party. "It is certainly going to benefit the party. There were complaints pertaining to then Mumbai Congress president .
Maken responsible for sealing in Delhi: Meenaksh Lekhi
The problem of sealing started in the national capital when Ajay Maken was the Urban Development minister, Meenakshi Lekhi, BJP's sitting MP from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency claimed Wednesday hitting out at his Congress opponent. Lekhi also hit out at the ruling AAP government over the issue, saying it had done nothing to stop the sealing drive. "Ajay Maken was Urban Development minister when the problem of sealing started in 2008. He made changes in Master Plan of Delhi which could not stop sealing.He is the man responsible for sealing in the first place," she said in a press conference. As far as Arvind Kejriwal government is concerned, its lawyers have been appearing in the court for almost four years in the case of sealing, "Why could not they stop it," she said. The BJP have been hammered by both the Congress and AAP over the sealing drive undertaken by the party ruled municipal corporations under the guidance of a Supreme Court-mandated monitoring committee. Lekhi ...
Suspension of Yadav cruel & unjustified, says Nirupam
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam Wednesday said the suspension of wrestler Narsingh Yadav from the Maharashtra police force for sharing dais with him in an election meeting was "cruel and unjustified". Yadav, posted in the Local Arms division of Mumbai Police, had Sunday allegedly participated in the campaign of Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Mumbai-North West seat. However, Yadav was later placed under suspension as a government servant cannot take part in poll campaign under the law. In a statement issued here, Nirupam said he condemns BJP-Sena for "harassing" a sportsman, who did not speak a word at the election meeting, but was just present there. Varanasi-born Yadav is a 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who had also won medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championships. "Suspension and FIR against Yadav for just sharing the stage with me in an election meeting is a cruel and an unjustified act," Nirupam said.
Cong stalwarts from Hry will meet same fate as in Jind bypolls: Khattar
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Wednesday claimed that people have made up their mind to bring back the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and said the senior opposition leaders will meet the same fate as in the recently held Jind bypolls. "The opposition party's existence is at stake and they are fighting for survival," Khattar said when asked if entry of Congress' stalwarts from different Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will make the going tough for the ruling BJP. While former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is a sitting MLA, has entered the fray from Sonipat, Kumari Selja and state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar are fighting from Ambala and Sirsa, respectively. Former six-time MLA Ajay Singh Yadav is contesting from Gurgaon and senior leader Avtar Singh Bhadana from Faridabad and another sitting MLA and senior leader Kuldeep Sharma from Karnal. Talking about Jind bypolls, where Congress' senior leader Randeep Singh Surjewala lost finishing even behind the fledgling .
Re-poll in one polling booth in Bengal's Cooch Behar: EC
The Election Commission on Wednesday ordered re-polling for one polling station under West Bengal's Cooch Behar constituency on April 29, an official said here.
Manoj Tiwari assails Kejriwal for not campaigning
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Manoj Tiwari on Wednesday slammed Chief Minister and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal over his absence from campaigning in the national capital.
With Iran and trade rifts, India feels brushed aside by Trump
President Donald Trump may count Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi among his international allies, but New Delhi is smarting over unexpected US decisions it sees as ignoring the interests of an increasingly close partner. The Trump administration this week said it would start to sanction countries that do not comply with its orders to stop buying oil from Iran, demanding that eight governments -- including India and China -- end all imports when six-month waivers run out next week. The move, which triggered a hike in global oil prices that could disproportionately hit poorer Indians, came just as Modi was campaigning for a new mandate in ongoing, multi-phase elections. The Iran diktat followed Trump's announcement in March that India, along with Turkey, would no longer enjoy a preferential trading status for a wide range of manufactured goods. Trump, who has rocky relations with the leaders of numerous Western allies, has publicly highlighted his bond with Modi. India's main ...
Oppn leaders slam Imran Khan for his 'shameful' remarks against Bilawal Bhutto
Pakistan's opposition leaders Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan for his "shameful" remarks targeting PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during a rally in South Waziristan, terming it as "absolutely disgusting" for a premier. Khan's remarks came a day after he made controversial statements during his visit to Iran where he said "Pakistan's soil was used for attacks in Iran." On Wednesday Khan told a gathering in South Waziristan that he came to power through struggle and hard work unlike Bilawal "Sahiba" who using the will of her mother (slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto) became the head of political party". Reacting strongly, Opposition Leader in National Assembly and PML-N president said, "This is beyond words. It's Shameful. Unbecoming. Reprehensible. The selected PM is clearly unfit for the job. Sad day for Pakistan." Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz said: "Absolutely disgusting. Odious." Bilawal tweeted: "What was that about small men in ..
Modi to hold roadshow in Varanasi on Thursday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, re-contesting from the Varanasi parliamentary constituency, will hold a roadshow here on Thursday, a day before filing his nomination papers.
Low voter turnout reflects anger, resentment of people: Omar
National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah Wednesday blamed the PDP and New Delhi for low voter turnout in Tuesday's polling in Anantnag and said it was a message to all politicians that people do not like opportunistic politics. "There is anger and resentment among the people and that is the reason that there was no voting in some areas," he told reporters at Kulgam in south Kashmir. In the first phase of polls in the Anantnag Lok Sabhs seat Tuesday, Bijbehara assembly segment recorded a voter turnout of 2.04 per cent, while the overall turnout was 13.61 per cent in the constituency where polls are being held in three phases due to security reasons. "The way the people in Anantnag and Bijbehara expressed their anger, not only Delhi, but PDP leadership as well should think about the atrocities inflicted upon the people of the state in the last four-and-a-half, five years. I may not have seen such amount of disgruntlement and disillusionment in my life the way I am seeing ...
Modi protected interests of '15 selected people': Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday accused him of protecting the interest of "15 selected people", while ignoring the farmers and the poor. "This chowkidar obliged 15 selected people during his five-year term but told sugarcane farmers that cane-farming caused 'sugar' (diabetes)," Gandhi alleged. The diabetes remark is usually attributed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. "Narendra Modi in 2014 made a number of false assurances, on 'achhe din' (better days), two crore jobs, Rs 15 lakh in every bank account. But none of them came true," Gandhi said at an election rally in the Kheri Lok sabha constituency. The rally was organised in support of Zafar Ali Naqvi, the party's candidate for the constituency, and its nominee for the Nighasan assembly bypoll, Atal Shukla. He also addressed a meeting in Unnao. Gandhi repeated allegations of irregularities in the Rafale aircraft deal, which the government has denied. "Anil Ambani, who never manufactured an airplane, was ...
Nearly 82% polling recorded in Bengal's third phase
An average of 81.97 percent votes were cast in the third phase election to five parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal, the Election Commission said here on Wednesday.
Decision on politicians invoking armed forces in campaigning soon: EC sources
The Election Commission will "soon" take a decision on complaints regarding political leaders invoking armed forces in campaigns, highly-placed sources said Wednesday. While the commission had asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to be careful in his utterances in future on his "Modi ji ki sena" remarks, it is examining reports on comments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah on the armed forces. Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was also asked to be careful in future for his "Modi ji ki sena" remarks. The EC had sought reports on Modi and Shah in the context of its advisory issued last month asking parties to desist from indulging in political propaganda involving actions of the armed forces. "...parties/candidates are advised that their campaigners/candidates should desist, as part of their election campaigning, from indulging in any political propaganda involving activities of defence forces," the commission said on March 19. "Decision ...
Tripura: Spl election observer scrutinising webcam footages
Special Election Observer Vinod Zutshi started examining footages recorded in webcams in the booths of West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency where opposition parties demanded fresh polls alleging widespread rigging by the ruling BJP, an official said Wednesday. Zutshi, former deputy election commissioner, was appointed as special observer for the Northeasern state on Monday, on the eve of the polling in its second seat. Voting in the East Tripura constituency was postponed from April 18 to April 23 in view of the law and order situation. "Zutshi arrived here on Tuesday evening and started examining all footages recorded by webcasting cameras and other related documents this morning," Deputy Chief electoral Officer Suman Rakshit said. The scrutiny was ordered following complaints from various political parties about widespread rigging and other poll related irregularities, Rakshit said. The EC has taken an initiative for 100 per cent webcasting of all polling booths in ...
Modi-Mamata's 'friendly relationship' proved: Congress
Taking a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's revelation that she sends sweets and kurtas to him, state Congress President Somen Mitra on Wednesday said their "friendly relationship" has been proved.
Modi's assertions about nuclear missiles has cost India a place in NSG: Anand Sharma
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bragging about nuclear missiles has cost India a place in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Speaking to mediapersons in Jodhpur on Wednesday, Sharma said "No nuclear power ever talked about their count of nuclear missiles or any of state head has ever said they were ready to attack with nuclear missiles. But our prime minister said so." He said Modi had warned that 18 nuclear missiles had been kept ready when Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was in Pakistan's captivity. The former cabinet minister appealed to Modi to be sincere in his language and not give the impression that the Indian prime minister was talking in the same vein as North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Sharma said India did not become a member of NSG in Modi's rule and his statements would close the door for the future. He questioned Modi's foreign policy. "Modi visits the Chinese president and then receives Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. ...
EC seeks explanation from official for incorrect entry on complaint against PM's Balakot remark
The Election Commission is examining Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks urging youth to vote in the name of those who carried out Balakot air strikes, but its grievance redressal portal shows that the complaint has been "resolved". Now, the Commission has sought an explanation from the concerned returning officer for the error. "The status should have shown that the matter has been referred to Election Commission headquarters. But the entry reflected that the complaint as resolved ... it is being rectified," explained a senior EC functionary. An explanation has been sought from the concerned official the functionary said. Addressing a rally in Ausa in Maharashtra's Latur on April 9, Modi said, "Can your first vote be dedicated to those who carried out the air strike." "I want to tell the first-time voters: can your first vote be dedicated to the veer jawans (valiant soldiers) who carried out the air strike in Pakistan. Can your first vote be dedicated to the veer shaheed (brave ...
Cong accuses Shah of 'justifying' Thakur's remarks on Karkare
The Congress on Wednesday accused BJP chief Amit Shah of "justifying" party's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur's controversial remarks on former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare's death, saying it was an insult to every soldier and police personal in the country. The Congress's allegations came after Shah Tuesday said Thakur was framed in false cases by those who had coined the term "Hindu terror" and indulged in vote bank politics. He said her candidature was an "absolutely right decision". Thakur is in the eye of a storm for controversial statements that her "curse" led to Karkare's death in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and that she was proud to have participated in the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Asked about the candidature of Thakur, Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "The more important part than who is contesting and who is not contesting is the statement by BJP leaders including Amit Shah today, who is .
Iran will continue to find buyers for its oil: Zarif
Iran said Wednesday that it will continue to defy American sanctions by finding buyers for its oil and use the Strait of Hormuz as a safe transit passage for the sale of the commodity, warning the US that it should "be prepared for the consequences" if it tried to stop Tehran. US President Donald Trump on Monday decided not to grant sanctions exemptions to any oil customers of Iran, further squeezing Tehran's top export commodity. The US' move which is seen as an escalation of its "maximum pressure" on Iran came after it last year gave 180-days waiver to eight countries, including India, China and Japan among others. "We believe that Iran will continue to sell its oil, we will continue to find buyers for our oil and we will continue to use the Strait of Hormuz as a safe transit passage for the sale of our oil. That is our intention and that is what we believe will happen," Iran's Foreign Affairs Minister Javad Zarif said at an event at the Asia Society here. Zarif warned that if the ..