Page 830 - Politics
Rahul Gandhi seems to be favourite among Wayanad voters
Political heat in the alleys of Wayanad has soared as the parliamentary constituency prepares to decide the fate of 22 candidates including that of Congress president Rahul Gandhi on April 23, the third phase of polling in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.With campaigning reaching its peak, people's voting preferences seem to be inclined towards Rahul Gandhi. It is widely believed that Gandhi's candidature would bring national attention and the facilities to the rural constituency.Kunjikriahna Kurup, 86, says, "I will vote for Rahul Gandhi. Only Congress could give better administration."Kurup is not the only one who is open about his voting preference. Majority of people, ANI talked to, said that they will vote for Gandhi this time.People believe that Gandhi's election will benefit the people of Wayanad. They hope that the Congress president can bring more facilities like railway link, medical college, and transportation to the constituency.Surendran and Chandran, however, share a different .
PM Modi 'fool' for taking advantage of surgical strikes: Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
Former Karnataka chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the Prime Minister is a "fool" for taking political advantage of surgical strikes."He (Modi) is a fool. Taking political advantage of surgical strikes is his big mistake," Siddaramaiah said while speaking to media persons here.Lambasting the Prime Minister for taking all credit for the surgical strikes, Siddaramaiah said: "Our armed forces carried out the surgical strike. Did he (Modi) carry a gun to do a surgical strike? Why is he (Modi) claiming credit for it?" he added.Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy had also attacked Prime Minister Modi, saying that he is using the Balakot air strike to his political advantage in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections."He doesn't know the meaning. He can speak but misusing his office is wrong. In this country, several Prime Ministers came. Several times the India-Pakistan war took place. Nobody has taken advantage of those issues for their personal benefits,"
Amethi EC officer orders postponement of Rahul's nomination paper scrutiny to April 22
Amethi Returning Officer Ram Manohar Mishra has ordered the postponement of scrutiny of Congress president Rahul Gandhi's nomination papers to April 22.An Independent candidate, Dhruv Lal, has filed a complaint alleging discrepancies in Rahul's candidature."There are three basic issues we have raised," Ravi Prakash, who is Lal's lawyer, told ANI. One of the issues he has raised is on the "basis of a certificate of incorporation of a company registered in the UK wherein he has declared himself a UK citizen," Prakash alleged.He said that under the Representation of People Act, a non-Indian citizen is barred from contesting elections in the country."On what basis has he become a British citizen? And, how did he obtain Indian citizenship now? Unless there is clarity over the matter, we have requested the Returning Officer not to accept Rahul Gandhi's nomination papers," Prakash said.The lawyer alleged that there are no details mentioned in Rahul's election affidavit about the assets and ..
Egyptians vote in constitution reform referendum
Egyptians on Saturday voted in a three-day referendum on constitutional reforms that could allow incumbent President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to rule until 2030 and give the head of state and the army more power.
Digest for international stories for week Apr 13 - Apr 19, 2019
A new government for the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority was sworn in Saturday, led by a veteran peace negotiator and harsh critic of Gaza's Hamas rulers. Khartoum, Apr 13 (AFP) Sudan's second new military leader in as many days vowed Saturday to 'uproot' deposed president Omar al-Bashir's regime and release protesters, in a bid to placate demonstrators demanding civilian rule. Karachi: The Islamic State Saturday claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that killed 21 people and wounded more than 50 others in Quetta, the provincial capital of Pakistan's restive Balochistan province. Sunday Helsinki: Early results in Finland's general election on Sunday showed a lead for the leftist Social Democrats, while the current prime minister said his Centre Party was the night's "biggest loser". Khartoum: Sudanese protesters on Sunday demanded the country's military rulers "immediately" hand power over to a civilian government that should then bring ousted leader Omar al-Bashir to ...
Mayawati is frustrated, desperate to do or say anything: Piyush Goyal
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday hit out at BSP supremo Mayawati for her comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying she is "frustrated"."Mayawati has become frustrated. She is desperate and is ready to do or say anything. The people of Uttar Pradesh have rejected caste-based politics. This is an unethical alliance (between SP and BSP) and the truth is that the two parties are working against each other's interests," Goyal told reporters.In reference to Mayawati yesterday calling Mulayam the only "real" backward community leader in the country and not a "fake OBC" leader like Modi, Goyal recalled that it was the same SP founder who had said in the Lok Sabha that he wanted to see Modi get a second term.While addressing a joint rally in Mainpuri on Friday, Mayawati had said, "There is no doubt that he (Mulayam) has joined people from all groups of the society under the SP banner. He does not come from a fake backward community like PM Modi, he is real OBC leader".She also ...
Who is Acharya Pramod Krishnam? (IANS Interview)
With a long white flowing beard, white robes and a red 'tilak on the forehead, Acharya Pramod Krishnam looks more like a godman and less like a politician, who is set to take on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on May 6 in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls.
BJP candidate asks supporters to opt for fake voting
Sanghmitra Maurya, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Uttar Pradesh's Badaun Lok Sabha seat, has landed in a controversy by asking her supporters to resort to fake voting if the actual voters were unable to cast their ballots.
Kosovo repatriates 110 citizens from Syria
Kosovo on Saturday repatriated 110 of its citizens from Syria, mostly mothers with their children having followed their partners who went to join jihadist groups in the war-torn country. "Today, in the early hours of the morning, a very sensitive and important operation was conducted with the help of the United States in which the Kosovar government repatriated 110 citizens from the war zone in Syria," justice minister Abelard Tahiri told a news conference. The group was made up mostly of women and children, but there were also four fighters, he said. Some 300 Kosovars joined jihadists in Syria and Iraq, according to the interior ministry. Around 70 of them were killed and 120 have come home, with most arrested on their return. Kosovo passed a law four years ago allowing citizens to be jailed for up to 15 years if they leave the country to join armed groups abroad.
LS polls in Goa: AAP eyes support of first-time voters
The Aam Admi Party (AAP), which is contesting both the Parliamentary seats in Goa, is largely banking on the first-time voters for support. Talking to PTI, AAP's North Goa seat contestant Pradeep Padgaonkar Saturday said the response from the first-time voters has been tremendous as they find the party's policies in sync with their way of thinking. "The first-time voters are getting attracted to the AAP in a big way. They find the party in sync with their thoughts. Even the old voters find hope in the AAP because of its policies," the journalist-turned-politician said. Padgaonkar is pitted against BJP's Shripad Naik and Congress' Girish Chodankar and others. Naik is Union minister for Ayush and a four-time MP from North Goa constituency. "After speaking to voters, I realised that the MP (Naik) has done nothing for voters. They are fed up with him," Padgaonkar said. "People claim that Naik hasn't done anything for them, but only created crematorium to take care of them ...
'PM anti-national, sold interest of nation', alleges Sidhu
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu Saturday alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi "ruined" government companies and "favoured" private firms in his five years of rule and accused him of being "anti-national for selling the interest of the nation". Sidhu also described PM Modi as "nikamma" (useless) and said he should stop harping on the issue of nationalism to garner votes and talk about the matters of national interest. Addressing a press conference here, the Punjab minister alleged, "Modi is the business development manager of Ambani and Adani, as he has favoured them at the cost of state-run firms." The Congress has been attacking the prime minister for "promoting crony capitalism and favouring his industrialist friends". The government has, however, denied the charges. Sidhu also alleged that while SBI and MTNL are accruing losses, PM Modi is endorsing private companies like Paytm and Reliance Jio. "Adani and Ambani accompanied the prime minister on foreign visits and 18 big ...
Vijay Gokhale to meet Chinese FM in Beijing
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 of Pakistan-based terrorist Masood Azhar at a UN panel.
Czech PM says won't resign if indicted over EU fraud
Czech billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Saturday he would not resign if indicted for his alleged role in a two-million-euro EU subsidy fraud. Police this week recommended that Babis be indicted over the case which could see him and several others, including family members, spending five to ten years in prison. "I would not resign because I have been saying from the beginning that this is a political process," Babis told the DNES broadsheet which he owns. The 64-year-old agro-chemicals mogul pegged by Forbes as the second-wealthiest Czech is suspected of abusing EU funds to build the luxury Stork Nest resort and farm near Prague in 2007. He allegedly took the farm out of his sprawling Agrofert food, chemicals and media holding to make it eligible for a subsidy awarded to small companies before eventually putting it back. Charged by police in 2017, Babis and several others -- including his wife, brother-in-law and daughter -- are suspected of subsidy fraud and harming the ...
NKorea issues mild criticism of Bolton over media interview
North Korea has issued a relatively mild criticism of White House national security adviser John Bolton over a recent interview he gave. State media on Saturday cited First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui as criticising Bolton for telling Bloomberg News that the US would need more evidence of North Korea's disarmament commitment before a third leaders' summit. Choe described Bolton's comments as having "no charm" and being "dim-sighted" Her criticism is much softer than the North's typical fiery rhetoric usually directed at the US and South Korea. North Korea blames the US for deadlocked nuclear negotiations. Some observers say the North is avoiding harsh rhetoric at the US to keep diplomacy alive. On Thursday, the North demanded US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo be removed from nuclear negotiations.
Speedbreaker didi lost sleep after 2 phases of LS polls: Modi
Lashing out at TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said "speedbreaker didi" has lost her sleep after the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal. Addressing an election rally here in South Dinajpur district, Modi accused the chief minister of fooling people in the name of 'ma, mati and manush' (mother, land and people). "Speedbreaker didi has lost her sleep after the reports that came in post the first and second phase of polling in the state," the prime minister told a well-attended rally. He also flayed Banerjee for allowing people from the "neighbouring country" to campaign for the Trinamool Congress in the state. "It is shameful that people from neighbouring country are campaigning for the TMC. This was done by the party to appease the minority community," Modi said, referring to Bangladeshi actor Ferdous canvassing for the ruling TMC. "Such a thing has never happened in India, where people from neighbouring country ...
US authorities arrest man linked to N.Korea embassy raid
US authorities have arrested a former marine in connection with a mysterious February raid on North Korea's embassy in Spain during which masked assailants roughed-up staff and stole computers, the Washington Post reported Saturday. Citing two sources familiar with the case, the Post said federal authorities arrested Christopher Ahn, a former US Marine and member of a group dedicated to the overthrow of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. A dissident organisation known as the Cheollima Civil Defence (CCD) said it had orchestrated the February 22 embassy raid to highlight illicit activities rampant in North Korea's foreign missions. It came just days before a high-stakes nuclear summit in Vietnam between Kim and US President Donald Trump that ultimately failed to reach an accord. The Post said federal agents had also searched the apartment of Adrian Hong Chang, a Mexican national who Spanish authorities said last month had led the embassy raid. An FBI spokesman referred questions on the ..
Cong placed vote bank politics above national interest: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday charged the Congress with having placed vote bank politics above national interest while it was in power at the Centre. Addressing an election rally here, Modi also said that the opposition party and its allies were rattled by the trends that have emerged from the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls. "... The trends of the first two phases of elections have left them rattled. They no more have the temerity to demand proofs of the valiant cross-border operations conducted by our armed forces," the prime minister said. He said that "lies" were being spread about his government that its introduction of five per cent quota for the unreserved categories was a step in the direction of doing away with reservations. "Beware of such lies," he said. "The country has witnessed two types of politics of 'vote bhakti' and of 'desh bhakti'. The former was on display after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, when the then government did not go
Modi should be installed as PM to give befitting reply to
BJP President Amit Shah Saturday said Narendra Modi should be installed as the Prime Minister once again to secure the country and to give a "befitting" reply to terrorism and Pakistan. Creating a saffron surge, Shah held a massive road show at Bhadravathi in Shimogga, campaigning for party candidate B Y Raghavendra, son of Karnataka BJP President and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. Raghavendra is pitted against former legislator Madhu Bangarappa of JD(S), who is the son of former Chief Minister S Bangarappa. "This election is not only about making Raghavendra Member of Parliament, but to make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister," Shah said at the end of road show. "Why should we make Narendra Modi Prime Minister?, to secure the country, to give a befitting reply to terrorism and Pakistan. In order to give a befitting reply to Pakistan, people of Shimogga will have to press the ballot button adjacent to the Lotus symbol and Raghavendra's name," he said. Noting that ..
PM Modi slams Mamata Banerjee for 'not doing enough to uplift poor'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday came down heavily on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for demanding proof of Balakot air strike and slammed her for not doing enough to uplift the poor in the society despite being in the power for several years."When the Indian soldiers entered Pakistan's territory and killed the terrorist, then 'didi' (Banerjee) was among those leaders who asked for proof. If she wants to find evidence, then she must first find proof of chit fund scam," he said while addressing a meeting here."Mamata didi intends to apply the model of West Bengal to the entire country. The poor are kept poor and it is hard to carry out religious processions. This is the model she is referring to?" he asked."TMC, Left front and the Congress indulge in politics of discrimination. On the other hand, our government believes in 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. The schemes of our governments are benefiting the poor and marginalised from all communities," he added.The Prime ...
Lok Sabha polls: Confident that BJP will lose, says Ahmed Patel
We are not only hopeful but confident that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will lose in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, said senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Saturday."We are not only hopeful but also very confident that the BJP will lose. We will get good results in Gujarat too, we will cross double digit," he said addressing media persons here. "After the election results are announced on May 23, the BJP will no longer be in the government," he added.Talking about the incidents of Electronic Voter Machine (EVM) malfunction, he said: "The central government and Election Commission must be held accountable as so many EVMs malfunctioned during the polling."Sharpening his attack on the government for fielding Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur as Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal, Patel said: "The BJP can elect anyone they want to, but her controversial statement on the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Chief Hemant Karkare shows her ideologies."Sadhvi Pragya on April 18 ...