Page 777 - Politics

LS polls: Rahul, Shah to hold rallies ahead of first phase of voting in Rajasthan

As 13 of the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in Rajasthan go to polls on April 29, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his BJP counterpart Amit Shah will be canvassing for votes in the state on Thursday and Friday, respectively. A Congress spokesperson said the party president would address three election rallies in Ajmer, Jalore and Kota on Thursday. A day later, BJP president Amit Shah will be addressing an election rally in Jalore. BJP state spokesperson Vimal Katiyar said besides the rally on April 26, Shah would participate in a roadshow in support of BJP candidate Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Jodhpur later in the evening. As many as 249 candidates are in the fray for the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state, where the elections will be held in two phases on April 29 and May 6. For the April 29 elections, 115 candidates are in the fray in the state. The constituencies that will go to the polls during the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 29 are Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, ...

Mehbooba leads protest march against suspension of LoC trade

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday led a protest march of her party activists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district against the suspension of cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade and ban on Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI). The protest march was taken out from Town Hall Pulwama to deputy commissioner's office. Mehbooba demanded the revocation of the decision to suspend the cross-LoC trade and sought immediate release of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik from custody. She also sought revocation of ban on JeI and an end to the ban on civilian traffic on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. Malik is not in good health. I want to tell the Government of India that if God forbid, his health worsens, then the situation here will deteriorate further which will be very difficult to control. Our fight is against militants, but you should not harass their families, she told reporters.

NCP dubs PM's post voting 'road show' as "farewell procession"

The NCP on Wednesday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his alleged road show after casting his vote in Gujarat, terming it as his "farewell procession" on completion of "unsuccessful" five years of his term. NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik also shared a photograph of Modi waving at the crowd, apparently after casting his vote in Gujarat on Tuesday. The opposition parties, particularly the Congress, raised the issue, alleging it was violation of the model code of conduct. "Farewell procession of Mr #Modi. People bidding farewell to Modi ji after his completion of an unsuccessful 5 year term where he failed to deliver as #PM. #ByeByeModi," Malik said in sarcastic tweet. The Congress on Tuesday moved the Election Commission, alleging Modi took out a "road show" after casting his vote and made political remarks, violating the model code of conduct. It also called for imposing a campaign ban for two to three days on him for being an "uncaring offender".

Congress fields ex-minister Monserratte for Panaji bypoll

The Congress has fielded Atanasio Monserratte, a former minister who had served in various governments, as the party candidate for Panaji assembly byelection, necessitated by the death of sitting MLA and former chief minister Manohar Parrikar in March this year. According to BJP sources, the party is weighing options between Parrikar's son Utpal and former MLA Siddharth Kuncolienkar, who had defeated Monserratte in 2017 polls, for the May 19 contest. Monserratte's name was announced by AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik Tuesday, a release said stating that Congress president Rahul Gandhi has approved his candidature for Panaji constituency. Monserratte, who was vice president of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), an ally of the ruling BJP, had resigned last week and joined Congress. He had served as a minister in erstwhile Manohar Parrikar government in 2001-05, and in the governments headed by Pratapsinh Rane (2005-07) and Digambar Kamat (2007-12) of the Congress. He was ...

Shun politics of divisiveness, negativity: Priyanka to voters

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday asked voters here to help end the politics of divisiveness and negativity and teach the BJP a lesson in the Lok Sabha elections. "Change politics not only of your area or for your needs, but for your future generations and to save the country, as the country is in danger," she said at an election meeting here. "Remove the politics of divisiveness and negativity, and usher in politics which speaks about you, your grievances and makes efforts to redress them," the Congress general secretary said. In democracy, there is nothing bigger than the power of the people, Priyanka Gandhi, who is in charge of eastern UP for her party, said. Gandhi asked voters not to allow a person who speaks lies and does not work for you" to succeed. "The politics of the BJP is no longer the politics at the grass roots level. It has no connection with the people and it is just in the air. Teach them a lesson, she said. The reality of their politics is that ...

Denied ticket as took stand against party lines: Udit Raj

Udit Raj, the BJP MP who on Wednesday jumped ship to the Congress, hit out at the saffron party, claiming that he was denied a ticket because he took stand on many issues against the party lines.

Politics in a tea cup: Modi factor vs caste equation in Barmer

In Barmer, Lucky Tea House is a popular cafe. Located near the railway station, it has welcomed visitors for 35 years. Many of Lucky's customers are local residents, for whom it has become almost a ritual to have the morning tea here. With the morning tea served hot and fresh and newspapers by their side, the visitors passionately discuss politics. In northern India, tea and politics in any case go side by side. Dheeraj Jatt, 70, visits Lucky Tea House every morning. He has done this for years. Last week, Jatt was trying to convince his friends at the tea shop that there still is a Modi wave in Barmer. But some of his friends are unsure, they say caste equation will play a bigger role this time, unlike 2014. The discussion goes on. It is likely to continue until the constituency votes on April 29. After that, Jatt and his friends say with a smile, they will discuss who among them understood politics better. Barmer seat, the desert state's largest parliamentary constituency in terms of

Iran leader says US oil sanctions won't go 'without response'

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called the end of oil sanction waivers by the United States a "hostile measure" that "won't be left without a response". "US efforts to boycott the sale of Iran's oil won't get them anywhere. We will export our oil as much as we need and we intend," his official English-language Twitter account said.

PM misguiding country on reservation issue

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misguiding the country on the issue of reservation. In a tweet, Mayawati said, "Efforts being made by PM Modi to misguide the country on reservation that it will continue, is in fact another jumlebaji (rhetoric), as like the Congress, in their rule, reservation to SC/ST/OBC has been made completely inactive and ineffective." Apart from this, why are governments of the BJP at the Centre and in the state working to kill the rights of Dalits, tribals and OBC, of giving reservations to them in government jobs? she asked. The BSP chief also said, "The BJP and PM Modi must give their report (hisab-kitab) on this.

BJP will win elections as nationalism has taken over casteism: Amar Singh

The BJP will form the next government with majority as nationalism has taken over casteism in this Lok Sabha election, former Samajwadi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh said Wednesday. In an interview to PTI, Singh also attacked the SP leadership, accusing party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav of "doublespeak" and ditching him. "The BJP will be able to form majority government at the Centre as this time nationalism has taken over casteism and the scenario has changed in favour of Narendra Modi," he said. Speaking about the difference between the 2014 and 2019 general elections, Singh told PTI over phone that there was a 'NaMo' wave in 2014, but this time people will vote for him for the tremendous work he has done in the last five years. "From medical treatment to LPG cylinders, electricity, housing and electricity, the BJP government has worked in all areas and touched the common man's life," said Singh, who due to illness is not actively campaigning. On being asked about ...

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra holds roadshow in Mahoba

Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday held a roadshow in Mahoba in favour of Pritam Singh Lodhi Kisan, the party candidate from Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat.Pritam Singh joined Priyanka in the roadshow in which she waived to the party supporters here. A large number of supporters joined her roadshow.In the last Lok Sabha elections, BJP's Kunwar Pushpendra Singh Chandel had won from Hamirpur seat. He had defeated Pritam Singh Lodhi.This time too, the two leaders are pitted against each other.Uttar Pradesh, where 80 Lok Sabha seats are at stake, is undergoing polls during all seven phases. So far, the election has been held for 26 Lok Sabah seats in the state. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

ISIS conspiracy case: Court sends accused Moha Faiz to NIA remand till May 1

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court on Wednesday sent Mohd Faiz, an accused in an alleged Islamic State (IS) conspiracy case to NIA remand till May 1.Additional sessions judge Rakesh Syal after hearing the arguments of both sides; allowed the remand plea of NIA, which sought remand of seven days for Mohd Faiz. The Counsel for accused, ADV MS Khan opposed the remand plea, saying that accused had already joined the probe with the agency.Faiz was arrested by the NIA on Tuesday for allegedly planning to carry out terrorist attacks in the National Capital Region (NCR) adjoining Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Faiz, a resident of Delhi, is the 14th accused arrested in the case so far.In a press release, NIA on Tuesday claimed, "Faiz was found to be the main member of the Pro-IS module Harkat-Ul-Harb-E-Islam, who was instrumental in bringing other members besides founding the group. The investigation has revealed that he was closely involved in the procurement of arms and ammunition

Kim Jong-un arrives in Russia to meet Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Russsia's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok on Wednesday for his first summit with President Vladimir Putin amid stalled nuclear talks with the US.

TRS chief to resume efforts on non-Cong, non-BJP front

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who has been advocating formation of a non-Congress, non-BJP front, is planning to resume efforts on the proposal. Rao is mulling meeting regional leaders, including Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, DMK chief M K Stalin and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to discuss the Centre-state relations and states' empowerment, among other issues, TRS sources said Wednesday. They claimed that after the Lok Sabha elections, neither the NDA nor the UPA would be in a position to form government at the Centre. The non-Congress, non-BJP leaders like Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, YSR Congress Party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh and Rao in Telangana would together win about 150 of the 180 Lok Sabha seats in the five states, the TRS sources claimed. Rao, who has been advocating formation of a federal front, had met Stalin, ...

Iran condemns Trump silence on Saudi mass execution

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday condemned the silence of US President Donald Trump's administration on Saudi Arabia's mass execution of 37 people convicted of terrorism. "After a wink at the dismembering of a journalist, not a whisper from the Trump administration when Saudi Arabia beheads 37 men in one day -- even crucifying one two days after Easter," Zarif said on Twitter. He was referring to the murder of prominent Saudi journalist and regime critic Jamal Khashoggi last year in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The 37 Saudi nationals were executed on Tuesday "for adopting terrorist and extremist thinking and for forming terrorist cells to corrupt and destabilise security", according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA). It said one person was crucified after his execution, a punishment reserved for particularly serious crimes. Executions in the ultra-conservative oil-rich kingdom are usually carried out by beheading. Rights group Amnesty ...

Punjab candidate mocks his opponent as a 'clown'

While political lingo has hit a new low among leaders across the country for the 2019 general elections, the statement of one Punjab politician regarding his opponent appears to be demeaning and comical.

AAP raises 'objections' on nominations filed by two BJP candidates in Delhi

The AAP Wednesday raised objections on nominations filed by two BJP candidates - sitting South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri and East Delhi contestant Gautam Gambhir, alleging that there were "shortcomings" in the documents submitted by them. Tuesday was the last day of filing nominations for the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, which is due on May 12. AAP South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha has alleged that Bidhuri's nomination has a few "shortcomings" and hearing is slated to take place this evening at the Returning Officer's (RO) Office, a senior official said. Bidhuri, a BJP leader is the lawmaker from the South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. AAP East Delhi candidate Atishi has also alleged that there are "issues" with the affidavit submitted by cricketer-turned politician in his nomination. "The stamp paper which has been furnished is dated April 23, 2019 whereas the notarial stamp on two of his affidavits have a date of April 18 and April 19 respectively," the AAP candidate alleged in a ..

I see no end to EVM bashing: Ex-CEC T S Krishnamurthy

Former Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy said Wednesday he saw no end to Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) bashing as losers in elections would continue to grumble against their usage. Several opposition parties have raised doubts over the credibility and efficacy of EVMs and claimed that they can be tampered with and manipulated. On some outfits demanding that all votes polled through EVMs be verified with at least 50 per cent Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs), Krishnamurthy said if they lose polls, they would even say it's also inadequate. "So, this game will go on. I think they (EVM bashing parties) are more interested in paper ballot, which will give more opportunity for more frauds; but if this is what they want, what can we do?", he said in anguish. "They will keep on grumbling. Those who are not winning, they will grumble; those who are winning they will keep quiet; when they (those who won earlier) lose, they will grumble. This game goes ...

Cong's Kaiserganj candidate booked for making derogatory remarks against UP CM

Congress's candidate for Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat Vinay Kumar Pandey was booked allegedly for making derogatory remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Nath sect, to which the CM belongs, officials said Wednesday. According to District Magistrate Nitin Bansal, the Congress candidate Tuesday made derogatory remarks against Adityanath, Mahant Avaidhyanath and the Nath sect. "Late on Tuesday night, based on a complaint of the in-charge of the video monitoring team, a case was registered against Pandey under various sections of the IPC and the Representation of the People Act," the DM said. He said a notice was served on the Congress candidate, who had been told to furnish a reply, failing which action would be initiated against him as per the Election Commission directives. Pandey is pitted against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of the BJP, who is also the sitting MP, and BSP's Chandradev Ram Yadav for the Kaiserganj Lok Sabha constituency, which goes to poll in .

Amit Shah neglected me for 3 years but Rahul loves me: Udit Raj

Sitting MP of North West Delhi Udit Raj, who left BJP and subsequently joined Congress on Wednesday, has claimed that BJP president Amit Shah did not give him time to meet since last three years, however, Congress president Rahul Gandhi "loves" him."I was told from inside (the party) that I provoke the Dalits. I kept saying that all their schemes for Dalits are fake. I have joined Congress because they (BJP) do not need me. In BJP's internal survey, I am the number one performer. This (North West Delhi) was the only seat on which BJP was winning. On the other six seats, they are on the verge of being defeated. I will surely bring down 10-15 seats of the BJP (across the country)," Udit Raj told ANI here."If I don't like the Congress policy for Dalit and women then I will oppose them too. I am not a selfish person. Rahul Gandhi told me three-four times in Parliament that you are in wrong party. He said to me that your heart is not for the BJP. Of course, he loves me and I will work with