Page 798 - Politics
Trump calls Sri Lankan PM to voice solidarity after Sunday's attacks
United States President Donald Trump on Monday called Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to voice his solidarity with the island nation as it deals with the aftermath of the ghastly terror attacks which have claimed lives of 300 people and left many injured."Spoke to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka this morning to inform him that the United States stands by him and his country in the fight against terrorism. Also expressed condolences on behalf of myself and the People of the United States!," Trump said in a tweet..
Varthaman displayed valour just like every jawan does: Amarinder Singh
While slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for politicising the Balakot air strike, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said that the Indian Air Force officer Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman "displayed valour just like every soldier does". He said that 4-5 jawans and officers die in Jammu and Kashmir every day but nobody talks about them."An Air Force officer displayed valour, just like every jawan does. It is their duty. What did you do that you mention him every day? You ask for votes in the name of Balakot, I do not understand what Modi intends to say. Does he mean that Army, Air Force and Navy are his?" said Singh addressing a public rally on Monday."They are of this country, they protect the country. I was also in the Army. Does anyone talk about incidents where 4-5 jawans and officers die every day in Jammu and Kashmir? Does anyone talk when BSF jawans die? No. Just because it appeared on TV, they keep talking about this," he said.At an election rally in Rajasthan's ...
Third batch of fishermen released by Pak reaches India
A batch of 100 fishermen, who were released by Pakistan as a goodwill gesture, reached India through the Attari-Wagah border here on Monday.This is the third batch of captured men released by Pakistan government who had promised to release 355 Indian fishermen along with five civilians from their jails.Pakistan so far has released 300 fishermen. The last batch of 100 fishermen reached India on April 15.The remaining Indian fishermen and civilians who are still in Pakistan jails are expected to be released on April 29.The fishermen were arrested for fishing illegally in Pakistani waters.From Malir Jail in Karachi, the fishermen were taken to Lahore through train on Sunday.Pakistan authorities handed them over to the BSF at Attari border after the retreat ceremony.
Choice is between 'majboor' and 'mazboot' leadership: Gadkari
Union minister Nitin Gadkari Monday said the general elections present a choice between a leadership that is "majboor" (helpless) before terrorism, and one exemplified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that is "mazboot" (strong). Addressing an election rally here, the former BJP president said, "I would urge you people to decide, before casting your votes, whether you want a Prime Minister who was majboor before terrorists and their masterminds because of the compulsions of vote bank politics or one who was strong and could act decisively." "Pakistan has lost to India in three wars. Frustrated over this realization, it has taken recourse to openly abetting terror. Terrorism is a global menace. We have just seen what happened in Sri Lanka. The NDA has demonstrated that it has the resolve to take decisive action in this regard," Gadkari said. "The NDA believes in the Indian tradition of inclusiveness and growth without taking recourse to imperialism. We have never thought of capturing ...
2019 LS election will decide fate of country: Sonia Gandhi
UPA chairperson and Congress candidate from Rae Bareli Sonia Gandhi Monday said the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are not "ordinary" as they will decide who will rule the country -- those who "destroyed" the Constitution or those who want to preserve its sanctity. Addressing party workers at the Bhuyemau guest house here, she said the Congress will continue to fight to defend the "buniyaadi usool" (founding principles) of the Constitution. "...Elections have happened a number of times, but this election is not an ordinary one. It will decide whether the rule of those who destroyed the Constitution will prevail or that of those who want to preserve its samman (sanctity). It has to be decided that, whether those destroying the society will govern, or those who take the country on the right track will get the reins of power," Gandhi said. Hitting out at Narendra Modi, the veteran Congress leader said the country has never seen "such an irresponsible prime minister". "We had understood the ...
Swami Om files nomination from New Delhi LS constituency
Controversial self-styled godman Swami Om filed his nomination papers Monday from the New Delhi Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency. He had earlier said that he is contesting elections against the "anti-Hindu stance" of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He filed his nomination at the office of returning officer, New Delhi district. He had participated in Bigg Boss 2018.
Gehlot hits back after Modi attacks him for campaigning to 'save his son'
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Monday hit back at Narendra Modi over his remarks that the Congress leader was campaigning "to save his son" not his party, and said the prime minister was not doing issue-based politics. The Congress has fielded Gehlot's son Vaibhav from the Jodhpur Lok Sabha seat. Modi has held four public meetings in Rajasthan in the last two days in which he had said nothing but lies, Gehlot told PTI. "Modiji is not doing issue-based politics but is raising nationalism and national security while trying to befool the people of the country," he said after the PM's remarks at a rally in Jodhpur. Earlier in the day, Modi had attacked the Rajasthan chief minister saying Gehlot is "roaming around in the streets to save his son" and not the Congress. Gehlot retorted saying the prime minister is not even aware that "I, Sachin Pilot and AICC in-charge Avinash Pandey have held around 60 meetings in several rounds of campaigning in various constituencies of the ...
Delhi set for interesting Lok Sabha battle
Delhi is set for an interesting contest in Lok Sabha elections with the Congress and the BJP Monday declaring their candidates, who include a former Chief Minister and two famous sportspersons. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has already declared its candidates.
Cong announces candidates for all 7 Delhi seats; fields Sheila, Maken, boxer Vijender Singh
Ending months of speculation over a possible tie-up with AAP, the Congress Monday announced the names of candidates for all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, fielding three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit from North-East Delhi, former Union minister Ajay Maken from New Delhi and Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh from South Delhi. The party also fielded J P Agarwal from Chandni Chowk, Arvinder Singh Lovely from East Delhi, Rajesh Lilothia from North-West Delhi and Mahabal Mishra from West Delhi. The 81-year-old Dikshit, who took over from Maken as the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief earlier this year, was last a Member of Parliament from 1984-89 from Kannauj. She was the chief minister of Delhi for three terms between 1998 and 2013. She had contested from East Delhi constituency in 1998, but lost. Diskhit had not entered electoral fray since she lost to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the 2013 Assembly polls. Dikshit will take on BJP's sitting MP Manoj Tiwari ..
US offers USD 10 mn for info to disrupt Hezbollah finances
The Trump administration is offering rewards of up to USD 10 million each for information that disrupts the finances of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah organization. The State and Treasury departments say the money will be paid to people who provide information such as the names of Hezbollah donors and financiers, bank records, customs receipts or evidence of real estate transactions. The payments will be made by the State Department's "Rewards for Justice" program that usually offers cash for information leading to the whereabouts of wanted terrorists. This is the first time the program has been used to target a financial network. Since it began in 1984, Rewards for Justice has paid more than USD 150 million to more than 100 people who have provided information about terrorists or prevented terrorism attacks.
Congress deceived Indians for over 7 decades, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Congress of deceiving the people of India for over last seven decades while citing the significant tasks accomplished by his government in the last five years.
Shah attacks Sonia on Batla House shootout, defends Pragya (Roundup)
BJP President Amit Shah on Monday attacked UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for allegedly grieving for terrorists killed in the 2008 Batla House shootout, but not for the police inspector who died then.
Priyanka Chaturvedi attends Aaditya Thackeray event
Days after joining the Shiv Sena, former Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi Monday attended an event, her first in the saffron party, in Worli where Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray held an interaction with youngsters. Earlier in the day, Chaturvedi had tweeted that she was looking forward to join Aaditya as he interacts with young and dynamic residents and voters of Mumbai. The Sena, which is known to play its politics on the aggressive "sons-of-the-soil" agenda, has been trying to reach out to youngsters in Mumbai and Maharashtra. With the voting date--April 29--for all the six Lok Sabha constituencies in Mumbai region drawing closer, the young Aaditya has been interacting with various stake-holders. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party is contesting three out of total six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai in alliance with the BJP, which is in the fray from the rest three seats. Chaturvedi quit the Congress and joined the Sena last week after being upset over the ...
2008 Olympic medalist Vijender is Cong candidate from South Delhi
The Congress Monday fielded champion boxer Vijender Singh, who won the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, from the South Delhi constituency. He will take on BJP's sitting MP Ramesh Bidhuri and AAP's Raghav Chadha. Earlier in the day, the Congress had announced six candidates from the national capital and with Singh's nomination, the party has named all its candidates for the seven Lok Sabha seats here. Sources said the party is confident that Singh will be able to garner massive support in the constituency, which has a large number of Jat and Gurjar voters. Singh later on in his career turned to professional boxing. In all, the Congress has so far declared candidates for 422 Lok Sabha seats.
11th Telangana Congress MLA defects to TRS
In yet another blow to the Congress in Telangana, senior leader and legislator Gandra Venkatramna Reddy Monday night quit the party and announced that he was joining the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
Key constituencies for phase 3 of Lok Sabha polls
Here are the key constituencies going to the polls in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday.
US ends Iran oil waivers; India studies move (3rd Lead)
US President Donald Trump on Monday ended the waiver allowed to India to buy Iranian oil and threatened sanctions if New Delhi did not comply with the embargo.
EC censures Sidhu, bars him from campaigning for 72 hours
The Election Commission Monday censured Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for his remarks in which he allegedly warned the Muslim community that efforts were on to divide their votes in Bihar, and barred him from campaigning for 72 hours. The ban comes into force from 10 am, Tuesday. The Punjab minister joins leaders such as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BSP supremo Mayawati, Union minister Maneka Gandhi and SP leader Azam Khan who faced similar campaign ban recently. "The Commission...strongly condemns the impugned statements made by him during election campaign held at Barsoi and Barari of Katihar District," the order rapping Sidhu reads. It also "censured" him for the "misconduct" "The Commission, under Article 324 of the Constitution of India and all other powers enabling in this behalf, bars him from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print. social media) etc. in ...
Cross-LoC bus plies as per schedule in J K's Poonch
The weekly cross-LoC bus service plied Monday as per schedule along the Poonch-Rawalakot route in Jammu and Kashmir, days after India indefinitely suspended trade at two points along the Line of Control in the state after reports of "misuse" of the business by some elements from across the border. Only two persons returned to the Valley from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) via the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route Monday, while the cross-LoC bus service remained suspended due to an under-repair bridge, officials said. A total of 28 passengers, all residents of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), availed the facility by crossing sides at Chakan-da-Bagh along the LoC in Poonch district, officials said. While 23 PoK residents reached Poonch from across the border, five PoK residents returned home after spending time with their relatives, they said, adding neither any Indian resident returned from PoK nor anyone went there to meet their relatives, apparently in view of the prevailing ...
No call after blasts in Colombo: JD-S activists' kin
None of the family members of the 7 Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) activists received a call from any of them after the serial blasts in Colombo on Easter Sunday, said a sibling on Monday.