Page 827 - Politics
NCP workers stage protest against Pragya Singh Thakur
NCP activists Saturday staged a protest here in Maharashtra condemning BJP leader sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's statement on Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who died in the line of duty while repulsing terrorists in Mumbai in 2008. Thakur is the BJP candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh. Earlier in the day, scores ofNCP activists, led by party leader Jitendra Awhad, gathered at the General Arunkumar Vaidya chowk, and raised slogans condemning Thakur and praising Karkare. Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case and currently out on bail, had said that Karkare died in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack because she had "cursed" him for "torturing" her. She apologised Friday after her statement caused a furore. The ATS under Karkare had probed the bomb blast case before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over. Awhad alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "backing" the statement made by the Hindutva leader. "Calling ..
Modi regime didn't keep promises, says Priyanka in Wayanad
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday hit out at the Narendra Modi government for making false promises to people and ignoring the country's farmers.
Modi regime is of "dictatorial governance", says D Raja
Describing the Narendra Modi government as a regime of "dictatorial governance", CPI leader D Raja said the country's future was at stake and democracy in peril as there is no space for expressing dissent or for questioning government policies. "If someone questions or criticises the government, they are dubbed anti-nationals," CPI national secretary D Raja said. "Here the RSS and the Sangh Parivar are trying to impose their Hindutva agenda. During the past five years, there has been a systematic attack on all institutions. Modi spoke maximum governance and minimum government. In fact it has become maximum Modi and minimum or minus governance," Raja told PTI in an interview here. He alleged that in a systematic attack, affecting the credibility of CBI, ED, Election Commission, the institutions are being undermined and misused. Highlighting the need for "a pro-people secular, democratic alternative government" at the Centre, Raja said, to address the concerns and ...
AAP suspends its Kerala convener
The Aam Aadmi Party has suspended its Kerala convener C R Neelakandan for allegedly announcing the party's support to the Congress in the southern state without any consultation with the party's political affairs committee. AAP leader Somnath Bharti said Neelakandan held a press conference in Kerala and said the AAP supports the candidates of the Congress in the state. "That press conference was unauthorised and was conducted without knowledge or consultation of the Aam Aadmi Party. The AAP's political affairs committee has condemned his move and decided to suspend Neelakandan from the primary membership of the party," Bharti said. "The party's PAC has decided to give unconditional support to the Left Democratic Front candidates in the state," Bharti said. Nilotpal Basu, CPI(M) leader, thanked the AAP for its support "Our main aim is to remove the NDA and stop the communal tensions and polarisation done by them and in this direction we are campaigning in different states and we thank .
Ravi Shankar Prasad questions Shatrughan's commitment to Cong
Union minister and BJP Lok Sabha candidate Ravi Shankar Prasad Saturday questioned actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha's commitment to the Congress, his new party, for favouring SP leader Akhilesh Yadav as the prime ministerial candidate. Prasad, BJP nominee for Patna Sahib parliamentary seat, also claimed that the "opportunistic alliance" of the opposition parties in Bihar has disintegrated as RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav did not share stage with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his rallies. The union minister is now in direct contest with Sinha, the two-time BJP MP from Patna Sahib, who has been made a candidate by the Congress this time. Talking to reporters, Prasad said he would not name his rival during the entire electioneering. To a query about Sinha favouring Akhilesh Yadav as the prime ministerial candidate, Prasad said, "You better ask this question to the Patna Sahib MP. He has been an MP for 22 years. He has now gone to a new party. He should tell you ...
PM must cross-check facts before making comments: Mamata
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comments on her performance as the Railway Minister, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday that Modi was "uttering lies" and making comments without cross-checking the facts.
Arab envoys reject Trump's moves on Jerusalem, Golan Heights
The Head of Mission of League of Arab States and Ambassadors of Palestine and Syria to India on Saturday rejected US President Donald Trump's recent moves on Jerusalem and Golan Heights, saying they hold no value for them.
Will not support "unholy" alliance between Cong and AAP: Jarnail Singh
AAP's former Rajouri Garden MLA Jarnail Singh has expressed displeasure over his party's ongoing alliance talks with the Congress, saying he cannot support the "unholy" tie-up. He said in case there was an alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress, then he cannot support it. "I have categorically conveyed my views to the party president and said I cannot be part of that alliance and I do not support it," Singh said. The AAP leader in April 2009, when he was working as a journalist, had thrown his shoe at the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for giving Lok Sabha tickets to Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler, both of whom are accused in 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He later joined the AAP and became MLA from Rajouri Garden. He later resigned as legislator to contest assembly polls against former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. When asked about his party colleague's view on the possible tie-up with the Congress, Kalkaji MLA Avtar Singh said he supports his party's ...
Guj minister calls Rahul 'puppy', CM disapproves while Cong lashes out
Gujarat minister Ganpatsinh Vasava on Saturday likened Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to a "puppy who would go to Pakistan or China if the they threw bread at it", inviting censure from not just the opposition party but also state chief minister Vijay Rupani. Vasava had earlier taken a swipe at the claim of some Congress supporters that Gandhi was an "incarnation of Lord Shiva", asking the Congress chief to prove the claim by consuming poison. Speaking at a tribal gathering on Saturday in Dediapada in Narmada district, part of Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP leader said, "When Rahul Gandhi gets up from the chair, it appears as if a puppy has got up wagging its tail, which would go to Pakistan and China if they threw bread at it." During the address, Vasava likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a lion. Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said Vasava's remarks showed that the BJP has been rejected by the people of Gujarat. "Vasava has done injustice to the tribal community to ...
Amethi candidate challenges Rahul's affidavit, raises questions on citizenship
An independent candidate Saturday raised objections over Congress president Rahul Gandhi's nomination from Amethi, alleging discrepancies over citizenship and educational qualifications in his election affidavit. Citing the complaint, the BJP said in New Delhi asked Gandhi to come clean on the matter. Complainant Dhruv Raj's lawyer Ravi Prakash showed reporters purported copies of a certificate of incorporation of a UK-registered company in which the Congress leader is stated to be a British national. The returning officer (RO) has asked Rahul Kaushik, the Congress leader's counsel, to give his reply on Monday at 10.30 am. Ravi Prakash claimed that the UK Company had existed for five years and would have made some profit, but that has not been disclosed in the affidavit. He told reporters that he has urged the returning officer to look into this aspect. Ravi Prakash said he has sought a clarification on Gandhi's citizenship as being a UK citizen would bar him from fighting the Lok ...
Bhopal: EC notice issued to Pragya Thakur over her remarks on Hemant Karkare
The Election Commission (EC) has issued a notice to BJP candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency Pragya Singh Thakur for alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct by her comments on former Mumbai ATS chief late Hemant Karkare.The notice was issued by Bhopal District Election Officer and Collector Sudam Khade seeking an explanation from her within a day on her comments.Thakur, who is contesting against Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, said on April 18 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. Thakur is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.Later on Friday, the Indian Police Service (IPS) Association condemned her "insulting" statement."Ashok Chakra awardee late Sri Hemant Karkare, IPS made the supreme sacrifice ...
Goa: Kejriwal gets clean chit in poll code violation complaint
Delhi Chief Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal Saturday got a clean chit from poll authorities in Goa in a local BJP leader's complaint about model code of conduct violation. Goa BJP leader Keshav Prabhu, in his complaint to the Chief Electoral Office in Goa, had alleged that Kejriwal, during a speech in Margao on April 13, had tried to incite religious sentiments and create fear among the state's Muslims and Christians. In an order passed on Saturday, Goa Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Kunal said that post inquiry, it was observed "there is no direct statement which is objectionable, derogatory or violation of model code of conduct so also there is no inflammatory statement". "Hence, the matter is treated as disposed," Kunal said quoting the inquiry report submitted by South Goa district election officer Ajit Roy. Kejriwal, the AAP's star campaigner, had addressed a poll rally in Margao town in South Goa on April 13. In his complaint, Prabhu ...
South Sudan president urges rebel chief to join unity government
South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Saturday urged opposition leader Riek Machar to return home "urgently" to help form a government of national unity. A failure by the former vice president to do so would destroy any hope for peace in the war-torn country, he said. "Even now, it's not too late," Kiir told reporters. "I am inviting Dr Riek Machar to urgently return to Juba so that we can work together to expedite the process of forming the revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity". A peace deal signed by the parties of the country's six-year-old conflict calls for the formation of a government of national unity on May 12. Machar, who is a signatory of the agreement, on Thursday asked for a delay of six months, saying it was not safe for him to return to Juba. According to leaders of his party he is in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. Machar "will not come to Juba without security arrangements," said Puot Kang Chol, representing Machar's SPLM-IO rebel group at the National .
Digvijay, Jyotiraditya file nominations
Congress stalwarts Digvijay Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia Saturday filed nomination forms from Bhopal and Guna Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh, respectively. Singh, who is facing BJP's Pragya Singh Thakur in Bhopal, filed his papers here Saturday afternoon, said Congress leader Jawahar Punjabi. "Diggi Raja" (as Singh is fondly called) would defeat Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, and recapture the seat for the Congress after a gap of 30 years, Punjabi claimed. Scindia, popularly known as "Maharaj" owing to his royal lineage, filed his nomination papers with the Shivpuri district election officer, Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said. Scindia, the sitting MP, is facing BJP's K P Yadav in Guna.
Bhopal: EC notice issued Pragya Thakur over her remarks on Hemant Karkare
The Election Commission (EC) has issued a notice to BJP candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency Pragya Singh Thakur for alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct by her comments on former Mumbai ATS chief late Hemant Karkare.The notice was issued by Bhopal District Election Officer and Collector Sudam Khade seeking an explanation from her within a day on her comments.Thakur, who is contesting against Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, said on April 18 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. Thakur is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.Later on Friday, the Indian Police Service (IPS) Association condemned her "insulting" statement."Ashok Chakra awardee late Sri Hemant Karkare, IPS made the supreme sacrifice ...
Rahul, Tejashwi Yadav yet to share stage in Bihar
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav are yet to share the stage at an election rally in Bihar during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.Sources said that a kind of 'bitterness' between the two leaders over the issue of seat sharing in Bihar and Jharkhand as well.Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad wanted to contest from Madhubani Lok Sabha seat, but the seat went to Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahni.After Sahni, a close confidant of Yadav, insisted to get Madhubani seat, Ahmed chose to resign from the Congress and decided to contest the poll as an independent candidate. VIP is an ally of grand alliance in Bihar, but is contesting the poll on the symbol of RJD.The tussle over Chatra seat in Jharkhand, and Supaul and Madhepura seats in Bihar has further added to the woes of the Mahagathbandhan.On the contrary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shared the stage often with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish ...
Couldn't raise adequate infra for want of land: AAP
Raising the issue of full statehood to Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that governs the state on Saturday said it could not put in place adequate infrastructure like schools and healthcare facilities, as the Centre did not give required land, which ultimately "hurt" Delhiites.
UN says 220 killed in fighting over Libya's capital
The UN health agency says at least 15 more people died in fighting over control of Libya's capital in the past two days, bringing the total to 220 dead including civilians. The World Health Organisation said late Friday that 1,066 others have been wounded since the self-styled Libyan National Army launched an offensive on April 5 to take Tripoli. The fighting pits the LNA, led by Khalifa Hifter, against rival militias affiliated with a weak UN-supported government in the capital. The clashes threaten to ignite civil war on the scale of the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Libya is split between rival governments in the east and west. President Donald Trump phoned Hifter earlier this week, expressing US support for the leader's perceived stance against terrorism.
BJP is terrorising voters: Ex-Goa RSS chief
Former Goa RSS Chief Subhash Velingkar Saturday alleged that the ruling BJP has created "terror" amongst voters in the state, which he said existed even when late Manohar Parrikar was the chief minister. Velingkar, who is the mentor of Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM), said there was "jabardast dahashat" (terrible terror) under Parrikar-led regime. The GSM has fielded candidates in the bypolls to Shiroda and Mandrem assembly constituencies, which will be held along with Lok Sabha elections in Goa on April 23. "The BJP has created terror amongst the voters in Goa. The leaders from that party are publicly threatening voters with a warning that they would be dealt with, if they don't vote for the party," he alleged in a press conference. Velingkar, once a strong supporter of Parrikar, was sacked by the Sangh in 2016 after he had taken a strident stance against the ruling BJP over the issue of medium of instruction. "It is not the case that there was no terror under Parrikar regime.
SP, Cong shunned my alliance offer: Shivpal Yadav
If the BJP benefits from the Pragatishil Samajwadi Party (Lohia) contesting the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party are to be responsible as they shunned his offer of an alliance, the party's chief and Akhilesh Yadav's estranged uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav said. Irrespective of the bonhomie between BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav in their Mainpuri rally Friday, Yadav dismissed this 'gathbandhan' (grouping) as a 'bemel' (incompatible) combination which is not likely to make much impact on the ground. "Who will guarantee that Mayawati won't switch sides after the results and go with the BJP if needed," he asked. In 2018, Shivpal had parted ways from the Samajwadi Party, founded by his elder brother Mulayam Singh Yadav, after 26 years of association, falling out with its president Akhilesh and cousin Ram Gopal Yadav, SP MP in Rajya Sabha. He launched Pragatishil Samajwadi Party (Lohia) and has given tickets to 60 candidates in Uttar ...