Page 820 - Politics
Egyptians vote in second day of referendum to extend Sisi rule
Egyptians voted for a second day on Sunday in a referendum on proposed constitutional amendments aimed at cementing the rule of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Sisi is widely expected to win backing for changes making it possible for him to stay in power until 2030, boosting his control over the judiciary and giving the military even greater influence in political life. Egyptian media outlets, tightly controlled by the state, have carried images of packed voting stations, while dissenting voices from the opposition and rights groups against the measures have been largely restricted to the internet. Some voters say their employers have encouraged them to vote, while others say they have received food coupons from unidentified people. In their initial report on the first day of the nationwide electoral process, an international observer team said "there were no hurdles to voting". The three-day referendum bucks the trend of North Africa's renewed uprisings, in which mass pro-democracy ..
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale begins two-day visit to China
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale arrived here on Sunday to hold talks on key issues concerning India-China relations with top Chinese officials and Foreign Minister Wang Yi as the two countries grapple with a host of issues, including Beijing's continuous attempts to block efforts to list Jaish-e-Mohammed's chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist". Gokhale is scheduled to hold bilateral consultations with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou on Monday and call on Wang, who is also the State Councillor, a high-level post in the hierarchy of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), official sources said. India-China relations gathered positive momentum after last year's informal summit at Wuhan between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, China's move to block Pakistan-based Azhar's designation as a "global terrorist" following the February 14 Pulawama terror attack carried out by a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist in which 40 CRPF personnel ..
PM mentions Abhinandan in rally, polling official says report will be sent if MCC violation found
Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Indian Air Force wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman during an election rally in the state, Gujarat's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Murali Krishna has asserted that a local election official will send a report on it if any violation is found.He also asserted that the commission has not taken any cognizance on the issue.Earlier in the day, while addressing a poll rally in Patan district, Modi had said that he had warned Pakistan of consequences after Abinandan was detained."When Abhinandan was captured by Pakistan, I said (to Pakistan) that if anything happens to our pilot then we will not leave you," he had said.Earlier, the EC had directed political parties to advise their candidates and leaders to desist from displaying photographs of defence personnel in advertisements as part of their election campaign and exercise caution while making reference to armed forces.The EC in its advisory had stated, "The Armed Forces of a nation are
It does hurt: DS Hooda condemns Pragya Thakur's remark onHemant Karkare
Lt General (Retd) DS Hooda on Sunday condemned the remarks of BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur on late former Mumbai ATS chief late Hemant Karkare."Yes, it does hurt when such things are said about a martyr, be it from the Army or the Police, full respect should be given. These utterances are not good," Hooda told reporters in a press conference here.In a comment that has courted controversy, Thakur had said earlier that Karkare lost his life because she had cursed him."I called Hemant Karkare and asked him to let me go if there is no evidence (against me). He (Karkare) said that he will bring evidence but will not leave me. I told him -- You will be ruined," Thakur had said.During the press conference, Hooda presented a report titled 'India, National Security Strategy'.The five major points in the report are - assuming our rightful place in global affairs, achieving a secure neighbourhood, peaceful resolution of internal conflicts, protecting our people and strengthening our ...
AAP-Congress alliance: AAP accuses Congress of 'backtracking'
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday blamed the Congress for unsuccessful alliance talks between the two parties, saying they tried hard but the Congress 'backtracked'."We tried very hard to forge an alliance with the Congress. We were ready to accept their every demand for Haryana and Punjab, but still, they backtracked. We cannot do anything more, the talks of alliance with Congress are over. We know, this will help BJP, but we simply don't have any choice left," said AAP leader Gopal Rai at a press conference here.Rai also said the Congress is trying to divide the votes of the opposition, which will help the BJP. However, he expressed hope that the voters of Delhi will not pay any heed to the Congress and hand over a complete washout to the party like it did in 2015 assembly elections."By dividing votes of the opposition, like in Uttar Pradesh and other states too, the Congress wants to benefit BJP. Despite our best intentions, Congress has gone back to its old ways and seeking to ..
Congress blames Centre for Balakot controversy
The Congress on Sunday accused the Centre of stirring a row over the number of terrorists killed in the air strike by India on a JeM camp at Balakot in Pakistan.
Family feud has tarnished SP's image in Mainpuri, claim villagers
Despite Mainpuri candidate and SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav showcasing unity after a long-running family feud, locals in the party's stronghold Saifai are divided in their opinions of supporting the party in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.Though the closeness between Mulayam and Akhilesh has given a loud and clear message of 'hum saath saath hai', it is still hard for the people of Saifai to restore faith in Akhilesh. In 2016, Akhilesh had dethroned his father as party chief following a bitter political feud within the family members. He even showed the door to his uncle Shivpal, who later formed his own party -- Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP).The family feud has become a hot topic of discussion among villagers at Saifai. Here, people are in full support of Mulayam, However, they are of the view that he has brought development in the region but the family feud has broken his image. An old villager and supporter of Mulayam, ...
AAP names 3 candidates for LS polls in Haryana, Jaihind to contest from Faridabad
The Aam Aadmi Party, which is in alliance with the JJP, Sunday announced its candidates for three Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, fielding party's state unit chief Naveen Jaihind from the Faridabad parliamentary constituency. The AAP is contesting on three seats, while the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) is fighting on the remaining seven seats in the state. Besides Jaihind, who is considered a confidant of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP has named Prithvi Raj, a retired DGP, as its candidate from Ambala reserved constituency and Krishan Kumar Agarwal, an advocate, from the Karnal seat. Their names were announced at a joint press conference of the AAP and the JJP in the national capital, a JJP spokesman said here. Among the JJP candidates announced earlier, sitting MP Dushyant Chautala is seeking re-election from the Hisar seat. The AAP had Saturday said that an alliance just in Delhi was not possible, after the Congress refused to have a tie-up with the party anywhere else. The
Form special cell to probe into terror activity, TRS govt told
: Senior BJP leaderBandaru Dattatraya Sunday demanded that the TRS government form a special cell for investigation into the alleged rise in terror activities following the search by the NIA at three places here in connection with an 2016 ISIS module case. The former Union Minister and Secunderabad MP alleged that the investigations of the National Investigating Agency (NIA) revealed that 'Hyderabad is a safe haven for Islamic terrorist activities.' Now, the recent investigations by reveal that the Islamic terrorist activities have increased in Hyderabad and a large number of youths are recruited from there, Dattatraya told reporters here. He demanded that the special cell under the supervision of a Director General or Inspector General-level rank officer can take up investigation of such activities. Also, he wanted the state government to keep a watch in and around Hyderabad and districts of Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Adilabad and Karimnagar, alleging that such activities ..
Elections not tough, BJP building hype around its candidate: Kharge
Opposition Leader and sitting Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge Sunday exuded confidence that he will win the elections and accused the BJP of building hype around its candidate Umesh Jadhav in the reserved Gulbarga parliamentary constituency. "BJP is creating a fake hype around Jadhav winning the Gulbarga reserved seat," he told PTI in an exclusive interview at Wadi where he stopped over for lunch at the house of a Sufi priest. Kharge said despite the alleged use of money power, he would win the elections as people know him for the past 50 years and development works he had undertaken so far. "The elections are not at all tough. This hype has been created by the RSS and BJP leaders. I am going to win the election. People here know me for the past 50 years. They know the work I did - whether it is setting up central university, ESI hospital, dental and medical colleges or skill development centres. So, such hype against me will not work," he said. The 77-year-old Congress leader is ...
Had warned Pak of consequences if pilot not returned: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that he had warned Pakistan of consequences if Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was not returned to India safe and sound."When Abhinandan was captured by Pakistan, it was told that if anything happens to our pilot then we will not leave you," he said, addressing a rally here.The Prime Minister also hit out at Congress for questioning the government over the casualty figure in the February 26 air strikes at a terrorist camp in Pakistan's Balakot."Congress repeatedly asked for proof about the air strikes in Balakot. It seems that they do not trust our security forces," Modi said.The Prime Minister asserted that his government is continuously working in the direction of combating terrorism in the country."After the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack, then UPA government paid homage to those killed but after becoming the Prime Minister I decided at that very moment that either my chair will remain or terrorists will remain alive," he said.He also ...
Come May 23, SP-BSP-RLD will have no choice but align with Cong: Salman Khurshid
Emphasising the inevitability of a post poll alliance between the Congress and the SP-BSP-RLD combine, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid says the Uttar Pradesh 'gathbandhan' will have no choice but to forge a tie-up with his party after the election results. Khurshid, who has been the chief of Congress' UP unit twice in the past, said the party is "well placed" in the state as people are getting disenchanted with the alternatives, both regional as well as national. The Congress was very keen to take on the BJP together with the gathbandhan' parties, he said. Had that happened, the BJP's miserable performance would have been a foregone conclusion, Khurshid told PTI in an interview at his residence in Kaimganj. But even if they (the BJP) increase their numbers because of the fact that our vote is divided, I think people will vote very sensibly and the people will vote with a clear calculation of what they need to do to get rid of the BJP, he said. Khurshid, who is the Congress' ...
Gabbard outraises Harris among Indian-American donors
Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu US Congresswoman and Democratic 2020 presidential candidate, has vastly outraised Senator Kamala Harris of Indian and Jamaican descent among Indian-American donors in the 2020 presidential fundraising derby so far.
Send message you don't need someone 'airdropped from Delhi':
Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a road show here Sunday as part of the NDA campaign in the state and asked the people to vote for its ally Bharat Dharma Jana Sena, to send a message that they don't require someone 'airdropped from Delhi." Her visit comes a day after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi campaigned at Wayanad for her brother and AICC chief Rahul Gandhi. "We faced floods. The stategovernment failed to open the dams on time, If they did, the devastation could have been avoided. Please vote for BDJS candidate Tushar Vellappally so that it will send a message that the people of Wayanad do not need someone air dropped here," Sitharaman said. The constituency has shot into the limelight after Congress declared the candidature of Rahul Gandhi in the hilly district. Rahul had visited the constituency twice with his sister Priyanka. The ruling CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front in Kerala has fielded CPI candidate P P Suneer to take on Rahul Gandhi.
Lok Sabha elections: AAP declares candidates for three seats in Haryana
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday declared candidates for three seats in Haryana for the Lok Sabha elections. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party fielded Naveen Jaihind from Faridabad, Prithviraj from Ambala, and advocate Krishan Kumar Agarwal from Karnal."The AAP will fight in Haryana on three seats; Naveen Jaihind will be the party's candidate from Faridabad, social worker Prithviraj from Ambala and advocate Krishna Kumar Agarwal from Karnal seat," said AAP leader Gopal Rai at a joint press conference here."The names of the remaining candidates of the AAP-Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) alliance will be out by the evening," he added.JJP leader and Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala, who was also present at the press briefing, said the two parties will jointly organise road shows, which would be attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and prominent JJP leaders."There are two days left for filing nominations. The AAP and JJP candidates will be announced by today evening. Subsequently, we will
Amit Shah takes out roadshow in Gujarat's Sanand
BJP president Amit Shah, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar seat in Gujarat, on Sunday embarked on a roadshow in Sanand town here. Gujarat BJP president Jitu Vaghani accompanied Shah as he set out on the roadshow from Sanand in Ahmedabad, which falls under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, in a specially designed open-hood vehicle. The Sanand Assembly seat, having a significant number of Kshatriya and Koli voters, is currently held by BJP MLA Kanu Patel, who belongs to the Koli community. Shah was also flanked by state ministers Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, who is a Kshatriya, and Kunwarji Bavalia, who belongs to the Koli community. A large number of BJP supporters and locals came out on the road to greet Shah. Before the roadshow, Shah in the morning held closed-door meetings with booth-level party leaders and workers of Ghatlodia, Bodakdev, Thaltej, Vejalpur and Sarkhej wards of the constituency. Campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat would end in the ...
AAP candidates to file nominations on Monday, Cong wasted time: Gopal Rai
The six remaining candidates of Aam Aadmi Party will file their nominations on Monday, senior party leader Gopal Rai said, accusing the Congress of "wasting" its time over an alliance in Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh. Rai also announced the names of three candidates who will be contesting from Haryana. "Naveen Jaihind, Haryana state party in-charge, would be contesting from Faridabad. Krishna Kumar Agarwal, an advocate, would contest from Karnal while Prithviraj, a former IPS officer and ex-DGP of Haryana would contest on AAP ticket from Ambala," he told reporters. Rai also announced that Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal would participate in two mega roadshows in Haryana. The AAP has formed an alliance with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) in Haryana in 7:3 seat sharing formula with seven seats for the JJP and three for the AAP. Rai accused the Congress of "wasting" AAP's time over the tie-up in Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh. "We even postponed the filing of ...
Supporters of Raj Kumar Chauhan protest outside Rahul Gandhi's residence
Supporters of Congress leader Raj Kumar Chauhan gathered outside the residence on party chief Rahul Gandhi on Sunday to express dissent over the party's alleged denial of a ticket to Chauhan to contest in the ongoing polls.The protests come after media reports suggested that Congress will give Chauhan's ticket to Delhi Congress working president Rajesh Lilothia to contest from North West Delhi.However, Congress is yet to declare its candidates for the seven seats at stake in Delhi."Chauhan has gathered all the workers and was doing electioneering in full swing. They have informed voters that Chauhan will be contesting from their constituency. What will be done now? I do not understand why the party at the last minute has changed its decision," a protester told ANI."We will not going to work for any another candidate. We came to know that Rajesh Lilothia will be given his ticket. Lilothia does not stay here and has no connection with the place. We will only campaign for Chauhan and ...
Congress-AAP 2014 vote share suggests tie-up only way out
With just 20 days to go for polling in the national capital, suspense continues over Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress on forming an alliance to take on the BJP.
Shivpal Yadav calls SP-BSP combine "a flop show"
Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) Chief Shivpal Singh Yadav has called the SP-BSP 'mahagathbandhan' "a flop show". "The SP-BSP alliance is a flop show. It has taken shape only for convenience as they knew their existence was threatened. Otherwise they have been sworn enemies for the past 25 years. Now, how come they have come together?" Shivpal said, addressing an election meeting here. "This is opportunism at it's best. In the last Lok Sabha, the BSP won zero seats. Now if you multiply any numbers with zero, then the result will always be zero. This coalition will fall apart very soon," he said. Shivpal, who is contesting Lok Sabha polls from here, said people of Firozabad invited him and based on their interest decided to contest from the seat. Attacking the BJPs government at the Centre, Shivpal said no one had seen "ache din" as was promised. "False promises were made and nothing was done or delivered at the ground-level. Till my last breath, I will serve the people and work ...