Page 828 - Politics
Will become CM after next assembly polls in Karnataka: Siddaramaiah
Asserting that he is not a "political sanyasi" and was in "active politics", former Chief Minister Siddarmaiah Saturday said the Congress will form government in Karnataka after the next assembly polls, and he will become Chief Minister once again. Rubbishing reports about his immediate chief ministerial ambitions citing his recent statements, the Chairman of the Congress-JD(S) coalition coordination committee clarified that he will occupy the top job after the next assembly election and there was nothing wrong in that. The next assembly elections in the state will be held in 2023. "I had said I will become chief minister in the future... did I say tomorrow (after Lok Sabha polls). I meant after next assembly election... am I a political sanyasi? If I was why would I come here in this hot sun? I would have sat in the shade. I'm not a political sanyasi, I'm in active politics," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Davangere. "What I said was, in the future our party government will come to ..
Campaign hits high pitch in Odisha for phase 3
Poll campaign has hit a high pitch ahead of the third phase of polling for Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Odisha scheduled for April 23.
I am scared, nobody knows what Modi will do: Pawar
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Saturday that he was "terribly afraid" as to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who once called Pawar his mentor in politics, would do next. Pawar was addressing a campaign rally at Daund in Baramati Lok Sabha constiutency from where his daughter Supriya Sule is seeking reelection. "Modi says he came into politics holding my finger. But now I am terribly afraid, because what this man will do, nobody knows," the former Union minister said. Modi had said he came into politics "holding Pawar's finger" while sharing dais with the NCP supremo at a function in Pune district in 2016. Pawar, as a senior minister in the UPA government, always helped him when he took up matters related to Gujarat with the Centre, Modi had said. At the rally Saturday, Pawar noted that BJP chief Amit Shah recently visited Baramati and Union minister Smriti Irani was scheduled to address a public meeting in the constituency. Why "the entire country" was interested in ...
Lok Sabha polls: BJP will make clean sweep in Gujarat, claims Vijay Rupani
Refuting claims of Congress leader Ahmed Patel that its party will cross 'double digits' in the state, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will bag all the 26 Parliamentary seats while the Congress will not get even a single seat."We will get all the 26 seats. Gujaratis believe Modi ji will do well for the country. Congress will not get even a single seat," the Chief Minister told ANI.Earlier in the day, Patel had said: "We are not only hopeful but also very confident that BJP will lose. We will get good results in Gujarat too, we will cross double digit. On May 23, when the election results come, the BJP will no longer be in the government."When asked to comment on Congress' claim that the BJP is raising nationalism to deflect from the main issues, Rupani said: "For ten years, Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister. Congress should tell people about the steps they have taken against terrorism. They have not taken any single step, they .
Nyay scheme will be 'petrol' for India's economy: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Saturday that his party's ambitious 'Nyay' minimum income scheme will act like a fuel for the Indian economy. Addressing an election rally at Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, Gandhi said the scheme, under which the Congress has promised to give Rs 72,000 per year to poor families, will be a "surgical strike" on poverty. "Nyay will add petrol to the Indian economy," he said, adding that with it, India will eliminate poverty. Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the unemployment rate was at 45-year high due to demonetisation and the "Gabbar Singh Tax" (referring to GST) imposed by the NDA government. In 2014, Modi made 'false' promises of creating two crore jobs, giving fair prices to farmers and depositing Rs 15 lakh in everyone's bank account, Gandhi said.
Congress for 'vote bhakti', BJP for 'desh bhakti': Modi
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stood for 'desh bhakti', while the Congress stood for 'vote bhakti' because of which the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government refused to retaliate after Pakistani terrorists attacked Mumbai in November 2008, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing an election rally in the state on Saturday.
People have decided to relieve chowkidar of his duties : Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a stinging attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and remarked that the people of the country have made up their minds to "relieve the chowkidar of his duties". "He (Modi) sought the votes of the people with the promise of playing the role of a chowkidar (watchman). But he ended up becoming a chowkidar for the likes of Anil Ambani. Now the people have made up their minds to relieve him of his duties," Gandhi told an election rally here. Continuing his attack, the Congress president said fear is nowadays writ large on the face of the "chowkidar". "It is the fear of defeat, of getting exposed before the people and of the fact that once the Rafale deal is investigated properly the chowkidar himself will be in jail along with the likes of Anil Ambani," he said. "Let him (Modi) try as much as he can, the people of Bihar, the people of the country have made up their minds that they will not allow the chowkidar to have ..
Gokhale to meet Chinese FM, Azhar likely on agenda (2nd Lead)
India's Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale will be on a two-day China visit from Sunday to meet Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi where he is likely to discuss the issue of blacklisting Pakistan-based terrorist Masood Azhar.
Congress for 'vote bhakti', BJP for 'desk bhakti': Modi
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stood for 'desh bhakti', while the Congress stood for 'vote bhakti' because of which the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government refused to retaliate after Pakistani terrorists attacked Mumbai in November 2008, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing an election rally in the state on Saturday.
Citing Pragya remarks, Patel accuses BJP of double standards
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel Saturday hit out at the BJP's "double standards" for talking about fighting terrorism and then giving tickets to those who are criticising martyrs. He was speaking in Rajkot against the backdrop of the BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Prgaya Singh Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, claiming that former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare died in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks as she had "cursed" him. The remarks caused a furore, forcing BJP to distance itself from them, and compelled Thakur to issue an apology on Friday evening. Slamming the BJP on the Thakur episode, Patel said, "The BJP has given tickets to such people. What message do you want to convey? On one side, the BJP talks about fighting terrorism. And those who are actually fighting terrorism are being criticised by BJP candidates." "Why these double standards? There is huge difference between what the BJP preaches and what it actually does," the
2019 polls being contested on Modi's name, deeds: BJP
The major difference between the 2014 and 2019 general elections is that while the last election was fought on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's name, the 2019 polls are being contested on his name as well as deeds, BJP national Vice President Avinash Rai Khanna said on Saturday.
Present generation of dynast has become liability for Congress: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday said the "present generation of dynast" has become a liability for the Congress party and expressed hope that aspirational India would reject caste-based and dynastic parties during the ongoing general elections. Jaitley added that with the socio-economic profile of the country moving up on account of growth, it would be difficult for people to accept dynasties. "If the Congress's dynast has only an ability to deliver 44 seats or 60 seats in Parliament, what then is the incentive for conventional Congressmen to bear humiliation of subjecting themselves to a dynast? Ultimately, in dynastic parties one has to accept political slavery," Jaitley said in a blog titled, 'Will 2019 Witness the Dynasty as a Liability on the Congress Party?' The grand old party is led by Rahul Gandhi, grandson of Indira Gandhi and son of Rajiv Gandhi, and is assisted by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Jaitley said the two Prime Ministers that BJP gave to the nation -- ..
Modi chowkidar of thieves, has insulted guards of Bihar: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chowkidar (guard) of chors (thieves) and accused him of insulting the honest guards of Bihar by calling himself a chowkidar."Narendra Modi calls himself guard of the country but, in fact, he is a guard of Vijay Mallya, Anil Ambani, Mehul Chauksi, and Nirav Modi. Modi has given Rs 30,000 crore to Ambani. He has insulted the honest youth of Bihar who guards the nation," Gandhi said at a rally here.Ambani has repeatedly refuted the charge.He said, "The people from Bihar guard several banks across the country. A bank where the guard is a Bihari, there can never be theft in that bank."Rahul alleged that Modi did not help the people of Bihar when the state was hit by floods caused by the Kosi river."He gave Rs 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani but did not give a single penny to the people of Bihar when floods hit Bihar."Rahul said that people of the country will dislodge Modi in the ongoing elections. "Voters are ...
Rahul Gandhi in Amethi on Monday
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will hold road shows in Amethi on Monday, a senior party functionary said here. District unit president of Congress, Anil Singh, said on Friday that Gandhi will hold road shows in Tiloi and Salon Vidhan Sabha segments during his stay here. The Congress chief will also address nukkad sabhas during the road show, Singh said. The Congress president is seeking re-election from the constituency and is involved in a direct fight with BJP's Smriti Irani.
There has never been such a "weaker govt", "weaker PM":
Congress leader Priyanaka Gandhi Vadra Saturday lashed out at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying there has never been a "weaker government" and "weaker Prime Minister" than the incumbent ones. Priyanka, who is in Wayanad, where her brother and party chief Rahul Gandhi, is contesting besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, sought to know whether suppressing the voice of those who criticise the government's policies amounts to nationalism. Addressing a massive rally of farmers in Pulpally, she questioned the nationalism of those who refused to listen to thousands of farmers who had "marched barefoot" to Delhi to highlight their problems. Priyanka said people deserve a Prime Minister who respects them and does not dismiss his own promises casually. "Sisters and brothers of Wayanad, I have never seen a weaker government, than the government that has been in power for last five years in India. I have never seen a weaker Prime Minister than the Prime Minister of India .
Amarinder and his '#CaptainDiChaupal' on Twitter
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had a successful run with his 'Coffee with Captain' campaign to woo young voters in Punjab in the run up to the February 2017 Assembly elections in the state.
BJP flayed for fielding Pragya Singh as candidate
Strongly criticising the BJP for fielding Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal for the Lok Sabha election, Congress spokesman A Vinayaraj said Saturday the ruling partys view on terrorism stands exposed with the decision. Addressing reporters here, Vinayaraj condemned Thakurs statement on anti-terrorist squad chief Hemang Karkare who was killed in action during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. BJP, which speaks loudly about nationalism, has shown its true colours by choosing a candidate accused in a case linked to terrorism. No BJP leader, including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had uttered a single world against her statement that Karkare met his fate on her curse after she was allegedly tortured in custody. Vinayaraj said Thakur should not be allowed to contest from any constituency in the country if the BJP is concerned about the safety of the nation. The Prime Minister should take strict action against Thakur if he has any respect for martyrs, he said.
BJP started betraying people soon after coming to power: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Congress general secretary and the party's star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said the BJP started betraying the people soon after coming to power at the Centre."Five years ago, a government came into power that was voted in with a big majority. In all their wisdom, the people of India placed their faith and hopes in the BJP government. It, however, started betraying the people soon after coming to power. They began to believe that power belonged to them and not to the people," said Priyanka, while addressing an election rally here.She also said that the first indication of a gross misunderstanding came quite early when BJP president Amit Shah declared shortly after the elections that the promise of Rs 15 lakh to be deposited in every bank account was just for the sake of elections, what he called a 'jumla," she said here.Priyanka was speaking at an election rally in support of her brother Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, apart from Amethi in
Cong affixed terror word with Hindus but did not respond to 26/11 Mumbai attack: Modi
Launching a scathing attack on Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the grand old party affixed 'terror' word with the Hindus instead of giving reply to terrorists after 26/11 Mumbai attack."When the terrorists attacked Mumbai in 26/11, the Congress government had refused to give permission to the Army to give a reply," the Prime Minister said while addressing an election rally here."Instead of giving reply to terrorists who came from Pakistan, the Congress conspired to affix the 'terror' word with the Hindus. They did conspiracy to change the entire discourse of the investigation," he said.Modi expressed surprise that Opposition which was often raising questions over the IAF air strike inside Pakistan, have suddenly fallen silent over the issue."After two phases of Lok Sabha elections, all those who questioning air strike and asking for proof, are not doing so now. Why have they forgotten to ask now?" the Prime Minister asked."I challenge those who questioned the ..
BJP accuses Congress of disallowing Pragya's meet
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday accused the Congress-led government in Madhya Pradesh of pressurising the district administration to disallow the BJP candidate from the Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, from organising public meetings.