Page 803 - Politics
NC, PDP leaders playing emotional card to seek votes: BJP
BJP leader Kavinder Gupta Monday accused the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party of playing emotional card to seek votes instead of focussing on development and maintaining peace in Jammu and Kashmir. The former chief minister also alleged the two regional parties are "targeting" security forces to please Hurriyat and Pakistan. "Unfortunately, the ongoing Lok Sabha election is witnessing a totally different and unexpected kind of campaigning, where leaders of NC and PDP are playing emotional cards to seek votes, instead of focussing on the much needed development and peace," the BJP leader said in a statement here. He said, "These parties target security forces to please Hurriyat and Pakistan, name their activists as 'Mujahideens' just to gain support and vote, which is highly condemnable". He said the people in Kashmir should understand that peace in the valley is imperative for flourishing tourism, trade and other economic activities but these parties are least ...
Will highlight achievements of Congress govts in Delhi and Centre: Sheila Dikshit
The Congress will highlight the achievements of its governments in Delhi and at the Centre, former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said on Monday after the party fielded her from the capital's North-East Delhi constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Dikshit, who is also the Delhi Congress chief said the party is also prepared to face the challenge of a triangular contest in Delhi. "We will begin campaigning soon by highlighting achievements of Congress governments in Delhi as well as at the Centre," Dikshit, who is also the Delhi Congress chief told reporters here. The Congress was in power in the national capital for three consecutive terms from 1998-2013 and from 2004-2014 at the Centre. Besides Dikshit, the party on Monday announced candidates for five more seats -- Ajay Maken (New Delhi), J P Agarwal (North-East Delhi), Rajesh Lillotia (North-West Delhi), Arvinder Singh Lovely (East Delhi), and Mahabal Mishra (West Delhi). Maken, who has been a three-time MLA and two-time
Trump: Saudi Arabia will 'make up' for oil supply after new Iran sanctions
President Donald Trump said Monday US ally Saudi Arabia will help to make up easily for any shortfalls in oil supply after he ordered a tightening of sanctions on Iran's oil exports. "Saudi Arabia and others in OPEC will more than make up the Oil Flow difference in our now Full Sanctions on Iranian Oil," Trump said in a tweet. Earlier, the White House announced it was tightening the sanctions to try to cripple the industry crucial to Iran's economy.
Hoodas, Chautalas, Bhajan Lals, Bansi Lals slug it out in 2019 LS polls
For decades, Haryana's politics has revolved around four prominent political families--the Hoodas, Chautalas, Bhajan Lals and Bansi Lals. Though none of these families are ruling the state now, they still wield considerable clout. The three Lals--Devi Lal, Bansi Lal and Bhajan Lal-- ruled the northern state by turn for decades, with the Hooda family calling the shots in recent years. The BJP formed its first government in Haryana in 2014. The Lals and Hoodas are once again testing their political fortune in the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Haryana, where polling on all the ten seats is scheduled to be held on May 12. The youngest to enter the fray is Bhavya Bishnoi (26), the third generation leader from the Bhajan Lal family, and Arjun (26), the fourth generation leader from the Chautala clan. Bhavya is the grandson of former chief minister late Bhajan Lal and son of Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi. Interestingly, he is pitted against sitting MP from Hisar Dushyant Chautala ..
Sadhvi Pragya files nomination from Bhopal
BJP candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur Monday filed her nomination papers for the Lok Sabha election from Bhopal amid chanting of mantras. Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case currently out on bail, filed her nomination based on what she claimed was an "auspicious time" after arriving at the collectorate here with 11 priests who chanted mantras. The 48-year-old right-wing activist said she would file her papers "formally" Tuesday. Sitting BJP Member of Parliament from Bhopal Alok Sanjar, who accompanied Thakur, said she will formally complete the nomination process Tuesday. "I will file my nomination papers formally tomorrow. I filed it today because it was an auspicious time. I had vowed that I would file my nomination in a state of full happiness and keeping God in mind," she told reporters. Thakur said she chose the time to file her nomination Monday based on "choghadiya", a Hindu Vedic calendar. The wheelchair-bound sadhvi, however, had trouble ...
Fatmi withdraws nomination for Madhubani
Former union minister Mohd Ali Ashraf Fatmi, who had quit RJD and had entered the fray from Madhubani Lok Sabha seat on a BSP ticket, Monday withdrew his nomination citing the refusal of rebel Congress nominee Shakeel Ahmed to do so and apprehending a split in votes benefiting the BJP candidate. "I took the decision (to withdraw) based on the feedback by my close supporters on whose insistence I had filed nomination papers. It was observed that the reluctance of Ahmed to withdraw would have lead to votes getting split between us. This would have helped the BJP," Fatmi told PTI-Bhasha over phone. Ahmed, an ex-MP from Madhubani, was in the fray as an Independent after the Congress refused to accept his request for a "friendly fight" in the seat which has gone to fledgling outfit VIP as per seat-sharing arrangements within the 'Mahagathbandhan'. Fatmi had been hoping to be considered for Madhubani after the RJD fielded senior leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui from Darbhanga ...
Studying implications of US decision to end sanctions waiver for import of Iranian oil: Govt sources
India is studying the implications of the US decision to end sanctions waiver to India on import of Iranian oil, government sources said Monday. In a move that could have implications on India's energy security, US President Donald Trump decided not to grant sanctions exemptions to any oil customers of Iran. In November last year, the US granted waivers to India, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy and Greece for a period of six months to import oil from Iran. "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," said a source. The US re-imposed sanctions on Iran last November, after President Trump pulled out of the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal. "President Donald J. Trump has decided not to reissue Significant Reduction Exceptions (SREs) when they expire in early May. This decision is intended to bring Iran's oil exports to zero, denying the regime its principal .
Israel's Netanyahu praises Trump move to end waivers on Iran oil
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised a White House announcement on Monday ending sanctions exemptions for Iran's oil customers, calling it "of great importance" in boosting pressure on Tehran. "The decision by President (Donald) Trump and the United States administration is of great importance to increase the pressure on the Iranian terrorist regime," Netanyahu said in a statement. "We stand by the determination of the US against Iranian aggression and this is the right way to stop it," he said. Iran is Israel's main enemy.
Riyadh to 'stabilise' oil market after US move to end Iran waivers: minister
Riyadh is committed to "stablise" the oil market after a US decision to end sanction exemptions for Iran's customers, Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said Monday. "The kingdom reaffirms its longstanding policy, which seeks to stablise the markets at all time," he said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
Das criticises Cong for fielding 'borrowed player' Kirti Azad
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das Monday criticised the Congress for fielding a "borrowed player" Kirti Azad from the Dhanbad Lok Sabha seat and claimed people of the coal city have always supported local leaders. After accompanying party candidate and sitting MP P N Singh during his nomination filing, Das while addressing an election rally accused the Congress of borrowing a candidate, ignoring its (Congresss) senior local leaders, who have served the party for a long time. People of Dhanbad have always supported local leaders in elections and sent back outsider candidates. This time too Dhanbad people will send the borrowed player of Congress packing in the (May 12) elections, Das said. Cricketer-turned-politician Azad, who switched sides to Congress from the BJP, has been fielded from Dhanbad as his traditional seat Dharbanga in Bihar went to Lalu Prasad's RJD. Targeting the Mahagathbandhan of the Congress, the JMM, the RJD and the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha ...
6 AAP leaders file nominations in Delhi
Six Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates filed nominations on Monday from their respective Lok Sabha constituencies.The development effectively buries the chances of an AAP-Congress alliance in the state.AAP candidate from East Delhi, Atishi filed her nomination in the presence of Deputy Chief Manish Sisodia.The other AAP candidates who filed their nominations are--Pankaj Gupta from Chandni Chowk, Dilip Pandey from North East Delhi, and Brajesh Goel from New Delhi.AAP South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha and Gugan Singh from North West Delhi also filed nominations.Earlier in the day, the Congress party announced candidates for six out of seven seats in Delhi.Former Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and former Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken were some of the high-profile names announced by the party to contest the Lok Sabha polls.While Sheila Dixit has been fielded from North East Delhi, Maken will be contesting from New Delhi seat.Congress has fielded JP Agarwal from Chandni Chowk, Arvinder .
Bomb should be tied around Rahul, sent to another country: Pankaja Munde's response to those asking for Balakot airstrike proof
Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde has said that a bomb should be tied around Congress president Rahul Gandhi and sent to another country for asking proof of IAF airstrike on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) training camp in Pakistan's Balakot area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.Pankaja, daughter of late Gopinath Munde, aimed at Rahul in response to several Congress leaders questioning the Balakot airstrike."We did surgical strike after the cowardly attack on our soldiers. Some people ask what was surgical strike and what is the evidence? I say we should have attached a bomb to Rahul Gandhi and should have sent him to another country. Then they would have understood," Munde, the Women and Child Welfare Minister of Maharashtra, said on April 21 while addressing a rally at Jalna parliamentary constituency.India lost over 40 CRPF personnel when a JeM operative targetted a CRPF convoy with an explosive-laden vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14.In response to the Pulwama ..
'Saboot gang' has let down country over Balakot air strike, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed the Congress party and its allies, saying that they asked for the proof of Balakot air strike, which let down the country."The Congress party and its 'Mahamilavati' allies are asking for proof for the bravery of soldiers. Whom would you believe? Will you rely on your 'saput' or trust the person who asks for proof," he said, while addressing an election rally."Brave soldiers have kept the country's head high and this proof seeking 'saboot gang' has disgraced the country," the Prime Minister said."The Congress party and its 'Mahamilavati' allies say that Modi should not talk of nationalism, national security and terrorism in these elections. Modi is attacking terrorism. Aren't you happy? How will the country be protected? Should it be discussed in this election or not," he asked the gathering."The national security issues are important in the Lok Sabha election. Their thinking is so low that they do not understand the issues of this big ...
SC seeks replies from Centre, state over restriction on civilian traffic on NH in J&K
The Supreme Court Monday sought responses from the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir on a plea seeking quashing of an order which restricts civilian traffic two days a week on the national highway (NH) stretch from Udhampur to Baramulla for movement of security forces. The state government issued an order on April 3 in which it said that keeping in view the Pulwama terror attack, another car bomb attack on security forces' convoy at Banihal and movement of forces during the Lok Sabha elections, no civilian traffic movement will be allowed on the NH stretch from 4 AM to 5 PM twice a week. The order said there would be two "dedicated days every week" -- Sunday and Wednesday -- for movement of security forces' convoy when there would be no civilian traffic on the national highway from Baramulla to Udhampur from 4 AM to 5 PM. The regulation of the vehicular movement on the NH would remain in force till May 31, it said. A plea challenging the April 3 order came up for hearing on Monday before a
Under what provision Anganwadi workers got poll duty: HC to EC
The Bombay High Court Monday directed the Election Commission of India (EC) to file an affidavit explaining the provision under which it had assigned election duty to Anganwadi workers from across Maharashtra. A bench of Justices AS Oka and MS Sanklecha directed EC counsel Pradeep Rajagopal to file the affidavit by Tuesday, (April 23). The bench was hearing a petition filed by around 3,500 Anganwadi workers from the state, challenging an April 12 order of the Election Commission assigning several poll tasks to them. As per the petitioners' counsel Kranti LC, the EC also warned the petitioners that if they failed to report for such duties, an FIR would be registered against them. However, a central government notification of 2010 exempted Anganwadi workers and several other agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), from election duties considering that they already had "specialised duties" and a taxing work schedule, advocate Kranti LC told the HC. The petitioners .
US to end waiver to India, others for Iran oil import
US President Donald Trump has decided that five major countries including India will no longer be exempt from penalties if they continue to import Iranian oil, the White House said on Monday.
3 candidates file papers in Himachal on first day
Three candidates, including two Independent, on Monday filed nomination papers on the first day for the May 19 Lok Sabha election to the four seats of Himachal Pradesh, official said.
Rahul liar of first order; should apologise to country: BJP on Cong chief's affidavit in SC
The BJP demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi on Monday after the Congress president expressed regret in the Supreme Court over his remarks in connection with the top court's Rafale judgment and said he was a "liar of the first order" in public opinion. On April 15, the apex court had clarified that in its Rafale judgment, there was no occasion for it to make a mention of the contemptuous observation that "chowkidar Narendra Modi chor hai" (watchman Narendra Modi is a thief), as has been attributed to it by Gandhi. Addressing a press conference at the party office here, BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said by filing an affidavit in the Supreme Court, Gandhi had accepted that he had lied as regards his allegations against Prime Minister Modi in connection with the Rafale fighter jets issue. "We are learning from the media that an affidavit expressing regret for attributing remarks to the honourable Supreme Court has been filed by Rahul Gandhi. Possibly, this is a first-of-its-kind
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. 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 situation. The weekly bus service, popularly known as 'Paigam-e-Aman' (message of peace) plies every Monday. The bus does not cross the LoC and the passengers exchange sides by foot at the Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point and later ...
NDA government has taken strong action against terrorists: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said his government had taken strong action against terrorism and that the Congress does not understand the importance of the issue because of its "narrow mindset". "Modi is taking action against terrorism. Modi is hitting them in their homes," the prime minister said, in an election rally here. He said national security is "very much" the issue of Lok Sabha elections, but the Congress, due to its "narrow mindset", does not understand this. "Congress and its 'mahamilavati' (wordplay on mahagathbandhan) say Modi should not talk about national security and terrorism in elections. Someone else may get deceived but not Modi," he said. It is okay if issues like national security are not highlighted in local elections, but in Lok Sabha polls it is very much an important issue, Modi said. "They (opposition) have narrow mindset. Even after 60 years, they do not understand what the issues of the country are. They are roaming around the country with ...