Page 799 - Politics
Cross-LoC bus runs between Poonch & Rawalakote
The cross Line of Control bus service, 'Paigam-e-Aman' (Message of Peace), operated on Monday between the Indian and Pakistan administered parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ruling party members don't respect Election Commission, says Kapil Sibbal
The Congress party on Monday alleged that the members of the ruling party including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Cabinet Ministers were not respecting the Election Commission of India (ECI)."We have told the EC that we believe people in the ruling party do not respect the poll panel. They do whatever they want. Even Prime Minister Modi is behaving the same way. Ministers are also doing the same thing," Congress leader Kapil Sibal said while talking to reporters the outside the Nirvachan Sadan here.Sibal was leading a delegation of Congress leaders who met the Election Commission officers to apprise them of the alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the BJP leaders.Accusing Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of violating the MCC, Sibal said, "The Defence Minister came out after casting her vote and said -- Abki Bar, Modi Sarkar. This is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. We have submitted the video of the incident. If the Defence Minister acts like ...
PM visited countries worldwide but ignored villages in his constituency: Priyanka
Upping the ante in the wake of polls, Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled around the world but did not visit even a single village in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi in the last five years."I went to Varanasi. When I asked the people there if the Prime Minister visited their villages, they told me he never visited them. He went to America, Africa, Japan and other parts of the world but he did not go to his own parliamentary constituency," she said at a public gathering here.Priyanka went on to describe how father Rajiv Gandhi used to visit the villages of his Lok Sabha seat and meet people when he was Prime Minister.She then slammed the BJP government for not fulfilling its promise to provide 2 crore jobs per year to the youth. "When the youth asks for their rights, they are beaten up," she said.People at the gathering continue to raise slogans of 'chowkidar chor hai' in an ...
LS Polls: BJP fields Gautam Gambhir from East Delhi, Meenakshi Lekhi from New Delhi
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday announced that cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir would contest the ongoing polls from East Delhi Lok Sabha seat while sitting MP Meenakshi Lekhi will contest the election from New Delhi seat.Gambhir is pitted against Congress' Arvinder Singh Lovely and Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Atishi. Lekhi, on the other hand, is up against AAP's Brajesh Goyal and Congress' Ajay Maken.A Padma Shri awardee, Gambhir joined the BJP on March 22 in the presence of Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP's Mahesh Giri had defeated AAP's Rajmohan Gandhi by a margin of 1,90,463 votes from East Delhi seat.Meanwhile, Lekhi, a sitting MP from New Delhi, had defeated Congress' Ajay Maken by a margin of 1,62,708 votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the same constituency.Delhi will go to polls on May 12 for the seven Lok Sabha seats at stake. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
PM Modi sent 'his Air Force' to destroy terrorists in Pakistan after Pulwama attack: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "sent his Air Force" to destroy terror camps in Pakistan after the deadly Pulwama attack in February this year."Forty-four of jawans were martyred in Pulwama terror attack. Earlier, nothing used to happen after such incidents. Narendra Modi ordered his Air Force on the 13th day (of the incident) and our aircraft blew the terrorists to pieces in Pakistan," Shah said at a rally here.Shah's remark comes weeks after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the armed forces as "Modi ji Ki Sena." The Election Commission had served him a notice and cautioned against making any such utterances in the future.The BJP president claimed that the glow from the face of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vanished after the Air Force conducted a strike on terrorist camps across the border in Pakistan on February 26.He said, "The glow vanished from Mamata dee's face that day."Shah alleged that Banerjee was ..
Khalilzad to visit India to hold Afghan peace talks
The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, will embark on a six-day visit to India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, and the United Kingdom from April 21 to May 11.The visit is a part of the overall effort to facilitate a political settlement that ends the conflict in Afghanistan."In Kabul, Special Representative Khalilzad will consult with the Afghan government and other Afghans to encourage all parties to work towards intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations to determine a final peace settlement," an official release said.In London, Moscow, Islamabad, and New Delhi, on the other hand, he will work to build international support for the Afghan peace process to help ensure that any peace settlement reached will be sustainable, the statement added."In Doha, he will continue to press forward on negotiations with the Taliban to reach a consensus on core national security issues, and urge their participation in inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue," the .
Pak, Iran to set up joint 'rapid reaction force' following Ormara incident
Pakistan and Iran will be setting up a joint border "rapid reaction force" to counter terrorism in the wake of the Ormara incident.Fourteen Pakistanis were shot dead, after three to four buses travelling from Ormara to Gwadar were stopped by around 15-20 terrorists, wearing the Frontier Corps (FC) uniform, on the coastal highway at Buzi Top on April 18, according to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Pakistani authorities have alleged that BRAS, the alliance of three Baloch terrorist organisations, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistan lodged a strong protest with Iran over the country's "inaction" against the group behind the attack, according to The Express Tribune.The decision to create the reaction force was made during Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's two-day maiden visit to Tehran.The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to peace and security in the entire region during talks, Geo News quoted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, as saying.Pakistani ...
PM Modi did surgical strike, killed terrorists: youth's response to query at Digvijay's rally
Congress leader and former two-time Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh was caught in an embarrassing situation at an election rally at Eint Khedi village here when a youth encouraged on stage to share views on Prime Minister ended up praising PM Narendra Modi!The senior Congress leader addressing Congress supporters here asked if they got Rs. 15 lakh from Narendra Modi. Digvijay pointed to a youth and asked him to come up on the dais to speak about whether he had received the money.The youth walks up and takes the microphone to say that "PM Modi did surgical strikes and killed terrorists."The reply, unexpected by all flummoxes Digvijay Singh who is left speechless and fails to react for a few seconds. Within seconds, however, the Congress leader gathers his wits and shoves the youth away from the microphone. He is pushed away from the stage by some party workers.Singh will contest against BJP candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal parliamentary ...
USA says no additional Iran oil sanction waivers; India studying implications of decision
India is studying the implications arising out of the United States' decision to not grant any additional sanction waivers for Iranian oil imports, government sources said."We have seen the announcement by the US Secretary of State. We are studying the implications of the decision and will make a statement at an appropriate time," the sources added. This comes after US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced that no fresh sanction waivers will be issued to existing importers of Iranian oil, including India.In November last year, the State Department had issued 180-day waivers to eight countries -- including India -- to give them more time to find alternative sources of oil. The waivers are set to come to an end on May 2."Today we are announcing the United States will not issue any additional Significant Reduction Exceptions to existing importers of Iranian oil," an official press release quoted him as saying.This is a part of the USA's plan of "dramatically accelerating" their ...
Another Cong MLA joins TRS
In a fresh setback to the Congress in Telangana, another of its MLAs Monday announced his decision to quit the party and join the ruling TRS. Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy met the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi's working president K T Rama Rao here, TRS sources said. Reddy is the 11th Congress MLA to leave the party and join the TRS. In a statement, Reddy, MLA from Bhupalapally, appreciated the TRS government's development and welfare initiatives. Reddy said he has decided to join the TRS after consulting all well-wishers. Announcing his decision to quit Congress, he said he would resign from the MLA post "if necessary." The Congress had won 19 Assembly seats among the total 119 in the assembly polls held in December last.
BJP losing ground across the country: Patnaik
Claiming that the BJP is fast losing ground across the country, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday accused the saffron party of indulging in falsehood, lies and violence. The BJP's main agenda is "lies, violence and hooliganism", Patnaik, who is also the president of Biju Janta Dal (BJD), said while addressing a series of election meetings in Jagatsinghpur district. "The party fields criminals, who are on bail, as its candidates. This is against our culture. The people will give a befitting reply to the BJP. The party's downfall has begun across the country," Patnaik said. Patnaik's statement has evoked sharp reaction from the BJP. While addressing multiple rallies in Jajpur district, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "There has been rise in crime during Naveen's 19-year rule. We will bring in a new legislation to stop hooliganism, if the BJP comes to power." "Attack on ECI's flying squad and its magistrate by a BJD candidate, Pradeep Maharaty, and his ...
LS poll: Cong's Deepender Hooda, Bhavya Bishnoi, BJP's Arvind Sharma among 64 file nominations
Congress' Deepender Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja and Bhavya Bishnoi, BJP's Arvind Sharma and INLD's Charanjeet Singh Rori were among the 64 candidates who filed their nomination papers on Monday, the penultimate day of filing of papers for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. With this, the number of candidates who have filed their nominations so far has risen to 142, Joint Chief Electoral Officer,Haryana, InderJeet said. The filing of nominations for the 10 seats in the state began on April 16 and will continue till April 23. The polling for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held in the sixth phase on May 12. While Deepender Singh Hooda, son of former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, is seeking renomination from Rohtak, Bhavya Bishnoi, son of Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi, contesting his first poll, has entered the fray from Hisar. Selja is contesting from the Ambala parliamentary constituency. Rori, who is INLD's sitting MP from Sirsa, is seeking re-election from the ...
Modi did nothing for poor, farmers, youth: Sachin Pilot
Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot Monday targeted Narendra Modi, alleging the Prime Minister has "done nothing" for the poor, the farmers, the youth, the unemployed and on women security. "If someone asks him about the development of the country, he starts talking about issues of Hindustan-Pakistan, Hindu-Muslim. This election is for 'rozi-roti' (employment) and for saving the country," Pilot said during an election rally here in support of Congress nominee Rijju Jhunjhunwala. He said that Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have always indulged in politics of "dividing people" on the basis of caste and religion and it was time to oust the BJP from power. He said the BJP veteran leaders who worked hard for the party since its inception have been sidelined. "Those who have not been good with their own people how can they do good for anyone else?" he asked. The Deputy Chief Minister said the BJP is left with no issues in the Lok Sabha elections, so it was ...
Time now to review Articles 370, 35A: Rajnath
Terming the Constitution's Articles 270 and 35A "temporary provisions", Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that time has now come to review them to evaluate how much benefit they brought to Jammu and Kashmir.
Why are Siddha docs being discriminated against,HC asks govt
The Madras High court Monday asked why Siddha doctors in the State were being discriminated against and if it was possible to regularise their services underthe National Rural Health Mission on par with Allopathic doctors. A division bench of the court's Madurai bench, comprising, Justices N Kirubakaran and S S Sundar, also posed if the government would reserve at least 50 per cent of the appointments for Siddha doctors under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram. Though there were 33 districts in Tamil Nadu, the government has appointed only eight Siddha doctors as district Siddha Medical Officers on regular basis. "Therefore, the government has to respond as to when it would appoint regular district Siddha Medical Officer in each district," the bench said. It observed that there was no separate University for Ayush which comprises Siddha, Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and Homeopathy, in Tamil Nadu. There was need to have a separate University for Ayush and government has to ...
LS polls: Kokrajhar headed for triangular contest
Kokrajhar will witness a triangular contest on April 23 as the Bodoland People's Front -- backed by the BJP-AGP ruling combine, and the United People's Party Liberal try to wrest the prestigious Lok Sabha constituency from the sitting Independent MP Naba Kumar Sarania. Six other candidates are in the fray from Kokrajhar, which is likely to lead to division of votes. Citing the work done by him, Sarania, a former United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) commander, has exuded confidence at various public meetings that he will retain the seat. Also known as Hira, Sarania had won the seat in 2014, defeating former Rajya Sabha MP and UPPL president Urkhao Gwra Brahma by a huge margin of 3,55,779 votes. The Independent was backed by several organisations such as the All Koch Rajbongshi Students Union (AKRSU), All Bodo Minority Students Union (ABMSU) in 2014. However, Brahma is hoping to turn the tide in his favour this time with the backing of the All Bodo Students Union, ceasefire militant .
Explain why infiltration, casualties highest under BJP govt: Chidambaram to Jaitley
After Arun Jaitley criticised him for his recent remarks on Pakistan, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram Monday hit back saying that the Union minister must explain why infiltration, the number of infiltrators and casualties last year were highest under the BJP government. Slamming former Union minister P Chidambaram's statement that India must "change its behaviour" towards Pakistan, Jaitley said, "Why Mr P Chidambaram is siding with Pakistan by asking India to change its behaviour? Should we remain victim of terrorism & not do anything?" Hitting out at Jailtey, Chidambaram said he should read the Congress' Manifesto which promises an uncompromising approach and hard measures to put an end to terrorism and to the infiltration of militants. "Will Mr Jaitley please explain why infiltration, number of infiltrators and number of casualties (civilian and security forces) in 2018 are the highest under the BJP government?" Chidamabaram tweeted. In another tweet, the former finance ...
BJP fields Gautam Gambhir from East Delhi
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday announced the names of two more candidates from the national capital, fielding cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir from the East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency and re-nominating sitting MP Meenakshi Lekhi from the New Delhi seat.
EC bars Sidhu from campaigning for 3 days
The Election Commission on Monday barred Punjab Minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu from campaigning for three days after it found him guilty of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) with his allegedly communal remarks.
103 candidates file nominations from 7 seats in Delhi including Harsh Vardhan from Chandni Chowk
Union minister Harsh Vardhan, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, AAP leaders Atishi Marlena, Raghav Chadha and Dilip Pandey were among 103 candidates who filed their nominations for the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital on Monday. BJP's West Delhi candidate Parvesh Verma, AAP candidates from North-West Delhi, New Delhi and Chandni Chowk Gugan Singh, Brijesh Goyal and Pankaj Gupta respectively also filed their nominations. The process of filing nominations will end on Tuesday. According to the Delhi's Chief Electoral Office, 103 candidates filed their nominations on Monday. The nomination process in Delhi began on April 16 and as on Monday, 185 candidates had filed their nominations, the Delhi CEO office said. The BJP candidates were accompanied by senior Union ministers. Road Transport and Highways, Shipping Nitin Gadkari and Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi flagged off Vardhan's nomination rally Pushpanjali Enclave, which is a part of the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha ...