Page 785 - Politics
Asked about BJP's 'dhai kilo ka haath', Vijender Singh fires back verbal punch
Boxing champion Vijender Singh on Tuesday said if the BJP has the "dhai kilo ka haath" -- in reference to Bollywood actor Sunny Deol joining the saffron party-- with them, the Congress now possesses someone who has "powerful biceps" which can fire punches. The ace pugilist said this while interacting with reporters after filing his nomination from the South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency Tuesday. As soon as he stepped out of the South Delhi District Magistrate's Office premises, Singh was mobbed by a battery of journalists, who asked questions ranging from his vision for the country to his sporting career. When a reporter told him the BJP now has the "dhai kilo ka haath" with them, he flexed his biceps and said "the Congress has this now". He also made his trademark punching pose. The phrase 'dhai kilo ka haanth' was one of the famous lines used in the Deol-starrer film 'Damini' released in 1993 and is often repeated by admirers of the actor. Deol joined the BJP in the presence of ...
PM Modi behaving like North Korean leader Kim Jong-un: Anand Sharma
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is behaving like the supreme leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un.Addressing media persons here, Sharma said"There is only one nation and leader in the world -- Kim Jong-un who is known for such statements on nuclear weapons and it seems PM Modi is behaving like him," he said."It would be disgraceful and unfortunate for a democratic country like India that a prime minister is comparing himself with such countries," he added.He further accused the Prime Minister of misleading the people of the country, and said the BJP had spent around Rs 4,397 crore on advertisements."PM Modi poses a threat to every institution of the country. No Indian Prime Minister has ever claimed Army as his party," he said."In the last two phases of polling, the country has voted against the BJP. That is why the Prime Minister is getting desperate and giving such irresponsible statements," said Sharma. Stressing that Prime ...
Sukhbir Badal to contest from Ferozepur, Harsimrat Kaur renominated from Bathinda
The Shiromani Akali Dal Tuesday fielded Sukhbir Singh Badal from the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat while his wife and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal was renominated from Bathinda. The announcement was made by SAD patron and five-time former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in Muktsar. "It has been decided that SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal will fight from Ferozepur and Harsimrat will contest from Bathinda," he said. Party spokesperson and former minister Daljit Singh Cheema said the decision to field Sukhbir, who is the SAD president and a legislator from the Jalalabad assembly seat (part of Ferozepur constituency), was taken following a strong demand from party leaders and workers of the Lok Sabha seat. "Besides respecting the sentiments of party leaders and workers, Parkash Singh Badal also took opinion of the senior leadership and core committee members," said Cheema. After taking a final opinion of leaders and workers of both the alliance partners -- BJP and SAD -- of the ...
Pawar stayed in Baramati even after end of campaign: BJP to EC
The BJP has filed a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that NCP chief Sharad Pawar stayed put in Baramati after the poll campaign ended on Sunday evening despite being a registered voter from Mumbai. As per EC rules, political functionaries/party workers - who have been brought from outside the constituency or are not listed as voters there - have to leave the constituency concerned after the campaign period is over. Pawar's daughter and sitting MP Supriya Sule, who won the seat in 2009 and 2014, is pitted against the BJP's Kanchan Kul. "Sharad Pawar has his residence in Mumbai and hardly goes to Baramati. Even after campaigning was over (on Sunday), he stayed put in Baramati and has been asking people to help his daughter in the polls. Hence, we have decided to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission," said senior BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Vinod Tawde Tuesday. He said in the complaint, made by BJP leader Chandrakant Patil, the party has ...
BJP fields Sunny Deol from Gurdaspur LS seat, retains Kirron Kher in Chandigarh
BJP on Tuesday fielded actor Sunny Deol from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat in Punjab, while retained Kirron Kher for Chandigarh seat, which she won by a margin of nearly 70,000 votes in the last Lok Sabha election.The party has fielded Som Prakash from Hoshiarpur seat, which is reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) in Punjab. "The Central Election Committee (CEC) decided these candidates," said Jagat Prakash Nadda, secretary, CEC, in a statement.In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Kher had won Chandigarh seat by defeating Pawan Kumar Bansal of the Congress party by a margin of around 70,000 votes. The Congress party has also fielded Bansal once again from the Union Territory Chandigarh seat.Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Sunil Jakhar had won Gurdaspur seat, which went to by-poll in October 2017 after the demise of BJP MP Vinod Khanna.Jakhar had defeated Swaran Singh Salaria, a business tycoon, of the BJP by over 1,90,000 votes. The Congress party has repeated Jakhar from ...
Modi to address poll rallies in run-up to voting on May 6
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address public meetings in Rajasthan on May 1 and 3 ahead of the polling on May 6. The prime minister will address a meeting in Jaipur city at 7 pm on May 1, said BJP state tour programme convener Omkar Singh Lakhawat. He will again visit the state on May 3 to address meetings in Hinduan City and Bikaner. He said Modi will address voters in support of the BJP nominees in Hindaun City of Karauli district at 2 pm and at 5 pm in Bikaner. The voting for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan will be held in the fourth phase on April 29 and for the remaining 12 seats in the sixth phase on May 6.
Pak navy successfully test-fires indigenous cruise missile
Pakistan Navy on Tuesday successfully test-fired an indigenous cruise missile in the Arabian Sea, the navy said. "The indigenously developed cruise missile has anti-ship missile and land attack capability," the navy said in a statement. It said the missile accurately hit its target on land signifying the "impressive capabilities" of the indigenous missile system. "This is a clear manifestation of Government's resolve to achieve self-reliance in this field," it added. Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Kaleem Shaukat witnessed the live firing, which was conducted by the navy's fast attack craft. Admiral Shaukat reaffirmed the navy's resolve "to ensure seaward defence and safeguard national maritime interests at all costs.
62% turnout in Gujarat, marginally less than in 2014
Over 62 per cent voters exercised their franchise in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah's home state Gujarat, clocking only one per cent less than the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when the ruling party walked away with all 26 seats.
BJP fields Sunny Deol from Gurdaspur, Kirron Kher from Chandigarh
Actor Sunny Deol was on Tuesday fielded by the BJP as its candidate from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat in Punjab hours after he joined the party, while sitting MP from Chandigarh Kirron Kher was renominated from the Union Territory. The party has nominated Som Prakash as its candidate from Hoshiarpur in Punjab in place of Union Minister Vijay Sampla. With the announcement of these three candidates, the party has declared its nominees for 437 seats, the highest number of Lok Sabha constituencies it has contested so far. Sunny Deol, 62, who has played the lead role in blockbusters such as 'Ghayal', 'Gadar' and 'Border' joined the BJP on Tuesday in the presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. The development came days after he met BJP president Amit Shah in Pune. "The way my father (film star Dharmendra) was attached with Atalji, today I have come to join Modiji. Whatever I can do for this family (BJP), I will do it.... I won't talk, I will show you ..
'Hurt' BJP MP Udit Raj targets party over denial of ticket
Denied a ticket, BJPs sitting Lok Sabha member Udit Raj on Tuesday attacked the party, saying candidates are being chosen on the basis of "some inscrutable internal standards" while ignoring the hard work of aspirants.
Chandrababu Naidu, Mamata likely to campaign for AAP in Delhi: Sources
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu may campaign for the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi next month, sources said. Last month, in a show of opposition unity, Naidu addressed a massive rally with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Banerjee at Vishakhapatnam. The sources said Naidu and Banerjee might campaign for the AAP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital on May 12. The counting of votes will be done on May 23.
Kejriwal among 20 AAP star campaigners in Haryana
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is among 20 star campaigners who would be canvassing for the Aam Aadmi Party in Haryana. Other AAP leaders who will campaign in the state include Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Punjab state head Bhagwant Mann, senior party leaders Gopal Rai and Sushil Gupta. The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded candidates from Ambala, Karnal and Faridabad in Haryana. Haryana state party in-charge Naveen Jaihind would contest from Faridabad. Krishna Kumar Agarwal, an advocate, from Karnal while Prithviraj, a former IPS officer and ex-DGP of Haryana from Ambala. The AAP and the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) have formed an alliance in the state and they will fight the Lok Sabha elections on three and seven seats respectively. Haryana goes to polls in the sixth phase on May 12. The list of star campaigners has been submitted to the election commission for its approval.
China protests US sanctions threat for buying Iran oil
China on Tuesday strongly protested against a threat by the US to impose sanctions on countries that continue buying Iranian oil after Washington decided not to reissue waivers for oil imports from the Middle Eastern country.
8 MLAs, 10 sitting MPs to slug it out in Lok Sabha polls in Punjab
Eight MLAs, including SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, and 10 MPs, including Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal from Bathinda are in the fray from Punjab in the Lok Sabha elections. So far political parties have altogether announced 10 women candidates for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state, which goes to the polls on May 19. The two sitting Akali Dal MLAs who will slug it out include Sukhbir Badal of Jalalabad, contesting from Ferozepur and former finance minister and Lehragaga MLA Parminder Singh Dhindsa, fighting from Sangrur. The ruling Congress has reposed faith in Chabbewal MLA Raj Kumar Chabbewal for Hoshiarpur seat and Gidderbaha legislator Amrinder Singh Raja fighting for Bathinda seat. Rebel AAP MLAs Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Baldev Singh are contesting from Bathinda and Faridkot seats respectively. After he was unceremoniously removed from the post of the leader of opposition of the Punjab Assembly, Khaira quit AAP and formed Punjabi Ekta Party which is now part of the ...
Debutants Vijender and Gambhir latest sportspersons to enter electoral fray from Delhi
Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir and Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh are the latest to enter the electoral fray from Delhi, which in the past has seen several sports personalities try their luck in politics with varying degrees of success. Gambhir, the top scorer of the final matches of the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup -- both were bagged by India -- will contest from East Delhi. Singh, the first Indian male boxer to win a world championship medal, also happens to be the only active sportsman to have contested from the national capital, is in fray from South Delhi. Former cricketer Kirti Azad, who quit the BJP to join the Congress early this year, entered the electoral fray from Gole Market assembly seat in 1993 Delhi Assembly polls. Kirti, son of former Bihar chief minister Bhagwat Jha Azad, contested Lok Sabha polls and was elected in 1999, 2009 and 2014. Azad is now contesting on a Congress ticket from Dhanbad in Jharkhand. Former test cricketer Chetan Chauhan found
Sudanese launch new protests to pressure military
Sudanese activists were holding nationwide protests on Tuesday to press the military to hand over power to a civilian authority after the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir earlier this month. Railway workers and other protesters gathered in Atbara, the northern transport hub where the uprising began in December, and travelled by train to the capital to join tens of thousands outside the military headquarters in Khartoum, where protesters have kept up a sit-in since April 6. Thousands of people poured into the streets to join marches and sit-ins in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman and in the provinces of Kassala and South Kordofan. Al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for 30 years, was forced from office on April 11 after four months of protests led by the Sudanese Professionals Association, a group of private unions that is demanding a full and immediate transfer of power to a civilian council. The SPA said security forces attempted to break up their gathering outside the military complex ..
Modi mocks Mamata for her PM aspirations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday mocked TMC chief Mamata Banerjee for her prime ministerial aspirations and said she would have bought the post with the money looted from chit fund scams had it been up for auction. Modi said he feels "pity" for Banerjee as the PMs post can never be brought by money looted in Saradha and Naradha scams. "To become the PM of a vast country like India a person has to earn the respect and blessings of its 130 crore people," he said at a poll rally in this industrial hub where union minister Babul Supriyo will take on actor-turned politcian Moon Moon Sen of TMC in a four-cornered fight. "By fighting in just a handful of seats, Didi (Banerjee) is dreaming of becoming a prime minister. If the post of the prime minister could be bought in auctions, then Congress and Didi wouldve bought it with the money they've looted from the country. "Didi, the prime minister's post is not available for auction that you can buy it with the money earned in .
Cong asks EC to order arrest of culprits behind party's worker's killing in WB
Congress on Tuesday asked the Election Commission to order the immediate arrest of those involved in the killing of a party worker, who was standing in the queue to cast his vote in Baligram area of Murshidabad in West Bengal.The man was killed after clashes erupted between Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in Baligram earlier in the day."In Murshidabad parliamentary constituency, a Congress worker, who was standing in the queue to cast his vote, was killed by TMC goons. The TMC goons attacked that boy and few others also. Our party workers opposed this. One person was killed and few are injured," Congress MP Pradip Bhattacharya told reporters after visiting the EC office in the national capital."We made a complaint to CEO Kolkata and I personally came and met Joint Deputy Commissioner in the EC office here. We demand immediate arrest of the culprits. We also demanded that proper arrangements should be made to avoid such situations in the upcoming phases," he said.The ...
1 killed in violence-marred Bengal polls (6th Lead)
One Congress worker was killed in clashes outside a polling booth as crude bombs were hurled in a bid to intimidate voters amid EVM malfunctioning at some place for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal on Tuesday.
Government to blame for Easter carnage: Rajapaksa
Opposition leader and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on the Sri Lankan government, saying it must be held accountable for the Easter Sunday bombings that killed 321 people.