Page 815 - Politics
Protest outside Rahul Gandhi's residence over reports of denial of ticket to Chauhan, Mishra
Supporters of Congress leaders Raj Kumar Chauhan and Mahabal Mishra staged a protest outside the party office and Rahul Gandhi's residence following reports that the two leaders were denied ticket for the Lok Sabha polls. The list of Congress candidates on seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi was not declared till late Sunday evening although the process of nomination is scheduled to conclude on April 23. Party sources claimed the Congress has finalised all the seven candidates and the party is likely to field Delhi Congress working president Rajesh Lilothia from North West Delhi seat, from where Raj Kumar Chauhan was hopeful. Olympic medal winner wrestler Sushil Kumar could be fielded from Purvanchali dominated constituency of West Delhi from where Mahabal Mishra was to be fielded. "I am trying to pacify my supporters but they are angry over neglect of Purvanchali people. An official announcement of candidates is awaited but the Congress may suffer losses because Purvanchali voters ...
LS polls: BJP fields Hardeep Puri from Punjab, Harsh Vardhan from Chandni Chowk
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday released a list of seven candidates from Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.In Delhi, the party has fielded Harsh Vardhan from Chandni Chowk, Manoj Tiwari from North East Delhi, Pravesh Verma from West Delhi and Ramesh Bidhuri from South Delhi.The party has announced the name of Shankar Lalwani from Madhya Pradesh's Indore Lok Sabha seat.Besides them, the party has fielded Hardeep Puri from Amritsar in Punjab. Earlier there were speculations that the party is planning to field actor Sunny Deol from this seat.Meanwhile, the party has given the ticket to Harinarayan Rajbhar from Uttar Pradesh's Ghosi seat.The third phase of the Lok Sabha election will be held on April 23. The result will be announced on May 23.
Guj Cong starts process to get Thakor expelled as MLA: Chavda
The Congress has begun the process to get disgruntled leader Alpesh Thakor expelled as an MLA for anti-party activities, Gujarat unit chief Amit Chavda said Sunday. Thakor, a prominent OBC leader who was elected from Radhanpur seat on a Congress ticket in 2017 Assembly polls, had resigned from all party posts on April 10 claiming he and his Thakor community had received insults and betrayal at the hands of the Congress. However, Thakor, who heads community outfit Thakor Sena, is yet to resign from the primary membership of the Congress nor has he quit the Assembly. At the time of his resignation from party posts, Thakor was AICC secretary in charge of Bihar, and was a member of all key committees of the Gujarat Congress for the Lok Sabha polls. After resigning, Thakor had started campaigning for Thakor Sena candidates who are contesting as Independents from Banaskantha Lok Sabha and Unjha Assembly seats, the latter having a bypoll. "In a very short time, Congress gave ..
India needs a harmonious relationship with Pakistan: P Chidambaram
India needs to maintain a harmonious relationship with Pakistan, said senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday. "The situation has worsened in the last five years," he said."We have to make Pakistan change its behaviour by changing our behaviour towards Islamabad to get peace. There have been talks of muscular policy and strong government in the past five years, but there were more infiltrations in 2018 than in the last 15 years," he said.Former Finance Minister Chidambaram, who was speaking at an event - 'Beyond Politics: Debating a New Security Manifesto' - organised by Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi, said that war is not an option for India, especially considering its position as a developing country in the world."War is not an option. We build strong armies not to win wars but to avoid them. We are in a neighbourhood where every country is a developing one. We, therefore, cannot be doing things which are beyond our economic capacity," he said.The senior ...
India become global power over 50 years, not 5 : Ramesh
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said that India has emerged as a major global power by efforts done over the last 50 years, not just in five years.
BJP to defend 62 seats in phase 3, Congress 16 (IANS special)
The third phase of Lok Sabha elections scheduled for Tuesday will see the maximum number of seats going to the polls in a single phase -- 117 across 15 states and Union Territories.
Campaigning for Anantnag district ends, polling on Tuesday
The election campaign in Anantnag district, which is part of the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency going to polls in three phases, ended Sunday as nearly 5.30 lakh voters will register their choice of the representative on Tuesday. "The election campaigning in Anantnag district came to an end this (Sunday) evening but will continue in Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts which form the Lok Sabha constituency," an election official said. He said the electioneering in the district remained by and large peaceful. Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency is spread over four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama with 16 assembly segments. The Lok Sabha polls to the constituency are being held in three phases due to security reasons. While Anantnag district will go to polls on Tuesday, voting in Kulgam district will be on April 29. Pulwama and Shopian districts will go to polls on May 6. The Election Commission has curtailed the polling duration for Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency by ...
India's nuclear weapons not for 'Diwali', asserts Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India is no longer afraid of Pakistan's nuclear threats as today it is among the world powers with capability to carry out nuclear attacks across all three media - land, water, and air.
High-voltage campaign for LS polls ends in Kerala
Curtains came down Sunday on the over a month-long campaign for the April 23 Lok Sabha elections in Kerala where Congress president Rahul Gandhi is seeking election from Wayanad constituency. On the last day of campaign, the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF, opposition Congress-led UDF and BJP-led NDA took out rallies across the state to woo the voters. The most exciting campaign in the recent history of Kerala ended at 6 PM marred by a spate of incidents of violence involving members of all the three major fronts being reported from different parts of the state Sunday. Polling would be held to all 20 Lok Sabha seats in the state on April 23 from 7 am to 5 pm. Besides Gandhi, union minister Alphonse Kannanthanam (Ernakulam), Sashi Tharoor (Congress) and BJP leader Kumanam Rajasekharan (both Thiruvananthapuram) and Suresh Gopi (Thrissur-BJP) are among the prominent candidates. Gandhi's entry into the poll fray from the hilly Wayanad constituency changed the complexion of polls and ..
Sushma Swaraj takes jibe at Cong-JDS govt in Karnataka
Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister, on Sunday took a jibe at the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) government in Karnataka, saying that a coalition cannot run a government "in haste" with no vision."See the 'gathbandhan' (alliance) government in Karnataka. Congress keeps on pulling its rivals. After so many difficulties, they stitched an alliance with a party (JDS) that won 37 seats. Here, you see the Chief Minister (HD Kumaraswamy). He keeps on crying," Swaraj said at a gathering here."You cannot run a coalition government in haste. Especially, when you do not have a vision on development and prosperity," she added.Swaraj urged the people to vote for BJP in massive numbers for ensuring a stable and majority government at the Centre."I believe that you all should vote for a party who can keep the country safe and ensure that development does not stop. I urge you all to vote for BJP in huge numbers and press the button of the lotus symbol (BJP's election symbol) so that we can .
BJD acts as 'roadblock' for Central government policies: Piyush Goyal
Union Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal on Sunday accused the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of acting as a "roadblock" for the Central government policies due to which their benefits don't reach the people of the state."The BJD government has kept Odisha underdeveloped for the past 19 years. They have acted as a roadblock for the Central government policies like the National Health Protection Scheme from reaching the people of Odisha," said Goyal while speaking to media persons here."Moreover, the Odisha government did not cooperate in any way during the land acquisition process for the railway projects in the state. It has become impossible for the Railway projects to be implemented here," he said.The Union Minister expressed confidence that the BJP will perform extremely well in Odisha in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections."There is a Modi wave across the country. The BJP will get 120 plus seats in the Odisha Assembly elections and 300 plus in the country in the Lok Sabha ...
1971 war: PM Modi slams Congress for missing 'golden opportunity' to solve J-K issue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lashed out at the Congress party for missing a "golden opportunity" of solving Jammu and Kashmir issue by letting off 90,000 prisoners of war and the land of Pakistan due to "international pressure" during the 1971 war."There are a lot of soldiers from here who took part in the 1971 war. At that time, due to our soldiers' bravery a big part of Pakistani land came in our possession. 90,000 Pakistani soldiers were also in our custody, but what did we do in Shimla? The then government squandered everything that our jawans had won due to international pressure. Imagine if Modi would have been there in 1971? They gave back their 90,000 soldiers and the land too," Prime Minister Modi said while addressing an election rally here."Wo sunehra mauka tha. Us 90,000 yudh kediyo ke badle me Jammu and Kashmir ki samasya ko hal karna, ghuspeth ki samasya ko hamesha ke liye hal karna... Bharat ke haath me trupt ka patta tha. Lekin mauka gawa diya. Parinaam pura .
Jet Airways debacle seems to be a scam: Anand Sharma
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Sunday said that the Jet Airways debacle seemed to be a "scam", taking place in the run-up to the elections and also asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter."I can smell and see it is a big scam. The collapse of Jet Airways appears to be a scam which was well thought out and was being executed in the name of elections so that nobody will ask questions to the concerned authorities," Sharma said at a press conference here.Thousands of employees of Jet Airways have been rendered jobless after the airline's decision to cease all operations owing to a huge accumulation of debt and falling revenue.Sharma also demanded that the matter be "re-investigated" and criminal responsibility should be fixed for "ruining thousands of jobs".He also added that the centre had in the past saved other businesses, which had huge amounts of debts by restructuring them and pondered as to why was the government not keen on doing the same in the case of Jet."The
Campaigning for Phase 3 of Lok Sabha polls ends
Campaigning for the third phase of polling in 116 parliamentary constituencies on April 23 ended Sunday with top leaders making a last-gasp effort to sway voters in favour of their respective parties. Polling will be held in the 115 seats, spread across 14 States and Union Territories. All seats in Gujarat (26), Kerala (20), Goa (2), Dadra and Nagar Haveli (1) and Daman and Diu (1) go to polls in the third of the seven-phase election. Besides, polling will be held in four seats in Assam, five in Bihar, seven in Chhattisgarh, one in Jammu and Kashmir, 14 in Karnataka, 14 in Maharashtra, six in Odisha, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, and five in West Bengal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and a host of Union ministers among others canvassed for their party candidates in the past few days, undertaking whirlwind tours of constituencies. Among the key contestants in the fray are BJP chief Amit Shah (Gandhinagar, Gujarat), Congress president Rahul ...
Single surgical or air strike not enough to make Pakistan change its behaviour: ex-Lt Gen Hooda
Former top Army commander Lt General DS Hooda, who had supervised India's military operations across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir against multiple terror launch pads there in September 2016, Sunday said a single surgical or air strike is not enough to make Pakistan change its behaviour. Hooda headed the Army's Northern Command when special forces commandos carried out the cross-border operations in September 2016 inside PoK, following Uri terror strike in which 19 Indian soldiers had been killed. Presenting salient features of his report "India's National Security Strategy" at a panel discussion "Beyond politics: Debating a new security manifesto" the former Army general said "one surgical strike or air strike is not going to change Pakistan's behaviour." The panel discussion had been organsied by think-tank Observer Research Foundation. The report which was recently presented to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, outlines ways to maintain India's relations with its .
In order to bring change in Pak behaviour, India must also change: Chidambaram
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram Sunday said that in order to bring a change in Pakistan's behaviour, India must also change its behaviour towards the neighbouring country. The former home minister also said that a way must be found to normalise the India-Pakistan relations so as to answer the country's "biggest external challenge" in terms of security and various other aspects. "Whatever we do, we have to make Pakistan change its behaviour. That means we must also change our behaviour towards Pakistan. These attitudinal changes will happen over a period of time. But we must make an effort," he said at a discussion titled -- "Beyond Politics: Debating a new Security Manifesto", organised by think-tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) here. Retired Lt General DS Hooda, while presenting salient features of his report "India's National Security Strategy", contended that "one surgical strike or air strike cannot change the behaviour of Pakistan." Chidambaram disagreed with him. "We .
Modi trying to run parallel government in Bengal: Mamata
Attacking the special observers appointed by Election Commission in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday accused the Centre of trying to run a parallel government in the state by sending in "officers from Delhi".
Campaign ends for third phase of polls in Bihar
Campaigning concluded on Sunday for 5 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar going to polls in the third phase on Tuesday. The constituencies going to vote in this phase are Madhepura, Supaul, Jhanjharpur, Khagaria and Araria in the flood-prone Seemanchal.
Campaign ends in 5 LS seats of NE voting in phase III
Campaigning came to an end on Sunday for the remaining four Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam and one of Tripura's two parliamentary seats which are going to polls as part of the third phase on Tuesday.
India missed 'golden opportunity' to resolve Kashmir dispute in 1971 war: PM
Prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India missed an "golden opportunity" to resolve Kashmir dispute during 1971 war when "under global pressure" it released hundreds of Pakistani troops who were in the custody of Indian army. Speaking at an election rally here, Modi said then Congress government signed Shimla agreement (in 1972) "under global pressure" and released over 90,000 prisoners of war (PoW) instead of resolving the Kashmir dispute "in lieu of the PoW." "Pak troops were in our custody. A big area of Pakistan was also captured by Indian forces during 1971 war but the Congress government lost it on table in Shimla agreement and they were released," he said. "The government crumbled under global pressure and signed the Shimla agreement and the matter was closed. PoW and the capture land were released. That was a golden opportunity to resolve the Kashmir dispute in lieu of the PoW," he said. The prime minister said that it was a trump card in the hands of the government ...