Page 836 - Politics
UK warns its citizens against travel to Pakistan
The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised its citizens against travel to Pakistan due to a "high threat of terrorism, kidnap and sectarian violence" throughout the country and said foreigners may be "directly targeted".
EC reprieve for Kushwaha, he will remain RLSP chief till LS polls conclude
In a reprieve to Upendra Kushwaha, the Election Commission Friday ruled that he will continue to be the president of RLSP and the symbol of 'Ceiling Fan' will continue to be reserved for the party till the conclusion of Lok Sabha elections. The commission is hearing a dispute between two factions of RSLP over who is the leader of the party. Lalan Paswan, who leads one the two factions, has told the poll panel that Kushwaha, without the consent of party members left the National Democratic Alliance, hence he was removed from the party. In an interim order, the EC said, for the Lok Sabha elections, the faction led by Paswan will be granted interim recognition as a state party. His faction has been asked to indicate the symbol of its choice (giving a choice of at least three symbols) from among the available free symbols which can be allotted to it. The name it wants for the party should be intimated to EC immediately, the poll panel said. Paswan is supporting NDA, while Kushwaha is part
People have decided to remove Modi, says Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be "removed from Delhi" and his party would form the government after the Lok Sabha polls. On the final lap of his election campaign in the Congress-JDS alliance ruled Karnataka, Gandhi also hit out at Modi for "what he has done" to his "guru", BJP stalwart L K Advani, saying that he should be "ashamed" of it. Gandhi addressed rallies at Raichur and Chikkodi in north Karnataka and is not scheduled to again campaign in the state, which will go to the second phase of polls on April 23. The first leg of the elections was held on Thursday. At his rally in Raichur,Gandhi said, "People have decided in 2019 that in Karnataka, Congress and JD(S), in Andhra Pradesh Naidu (Chandrababu Naidu) and across the country those who are fighting against BJP, they will win. Narendra Modi will be removed from Delhi." Gandhi, who addressed a rally in Gujarat earlier in the day said, "People have decided. ...
Amarinder blasts Sadhvi Pragya over Karkare comment
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday lashed out at BJPs Bhopal Lok Sabha seat candidate Sadhvi Pragya for insulting a decorated dead police officer and accused the hardline leader of dragging the current nationalism discourse to a new low.
Dhinakaran to register AMMK,elected party general secretary
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader T T V Dhinakaran was Friday unanimously elected its general secretary, even as a decision was taken to have it registered as a political party. The move comes just a day after Lok Sabha and by-elections to 18 assembly seats concluded in Tamil Nadu and days after the Supreme Court had chastised the group led by former AIADMK leaders Dhinakaran and V K Sasikala for not registering AMMK as a political party. At a meeting held at the AMMK headquarters here, it was decided that Sasikala, currently general secretary, would be elevated as president after her four-year imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case ends. "The deputy general secretary Dhinakaran has been unanimously elected as AMMK's general secretary. Also, as informed to the Supreme Court by our advocate, a decision to take steps to register AMMK as a political party was also taken today," AMMK spokesperson C R Saraswati told PTI. "The post of president would be allotted to .
Ex-bureaucrats to fight it out in Odisha in phase 3
The third phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 23 will witness a battle between several political heavyweights as well as former bureaucrats in Odisha.
Maha LS poll: NCP chief Pawar taunts PM with family jibe
Without naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar Friday said how could one who does not have a family understand what it is about. Addressing a poll rally in Purandar here for daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule, the former Union agriculture minister said the Modi government had ignored the interest of farmers. He added that he would back farmers "till he is breathing". On April 1, during a rally in Wardha, Modi had attacked Pawar and said the latter was losing his grip on the NCP due to family feuds led by nephew and former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. "How can one who does not have a family understand what family is?" a statement issued by the NCP quoted Pawar as saying at Friday's rally. Stating that the government was not serious about the drought in the state, he said, "My grandson Rohit provided water by tankers in Karjat in Ahmednagar. This in fact is the government's job. But we are with the people.
AMMK to be registered as party with EC, Dhinakaran elevated
The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) party on Friday elevated its founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran as its General Secretary and said steps will be taken to register it as a political party with the Election Commission.
Tej Pratap Yadav challenges RJD again
RJD chief Lalu Prasad's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav on Friday again challenged the RJD by refusing to accept its candidate Syed Faisal Ali in the Sheohar Lok Sabha constituency.
BJP using Kashmir as a scapegoat to make electoral gains: Mehbooba Mufti
Hours after India suspended trade across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir saying the route was being misused by Pakistan-based elements to smuggle weapons, narcotics and fake currency, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday claimed that the BJP was using Kashmir as a scapegoat to make electoral gains.Taking to Twitter, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said, "Using Kashmir as a scapegoat to claw its way back to power won't help BJP. It's an excuse to worsen ties with Pak (Pakistan) despite their peace overtures. By doing this, PM Modi has dismantled a CBM Initiated by Vajpayee ji. Won't be surprised if an attack on Pak is in the offing."Relations between New Delhi and Islamabad have been under strain since the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 security personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed on Jammu-Srinagar highway.Mufti also criticised BJP's Sadhvi Pragya for stating that ATS Chief Hemant Karkare
Salim demands re-polling at 24 booths in Raiganj LS seat
CPM candidate from Raiganj Mohammed Salim on Friday demanded re-polling at 24 booths of the parliamentary constituency, alleging booth capturing and hooliganism by the armed goons of Trinamool Congress (TMC) inside these polling stations.In a letter to the Returning Officer (RO) Arvind K Mina, the Left leader said that the re-polls have to happen to ensure a free and fair election in Raiganj Lok Sabha seat.Salim has demanded re-polling at 21 polling stations of Islampur, one polling station of Goalpokhar, Hemlabad, and Raiganj each.Salim has alleged that at several polling stations, armed goons intimidated the voters, presiding officer, and polling agents, expelled the polling agents soon after the elections started and voting was conducted totally by the armed goons.He also claimed that he had conveyed to the police observer about the potential of a complete hijacking of the polling process in booths of Agdimti Khunti in Islampur but no proper arrangements were made."It is also to be
Centre misusing investigative agencies to gag Opposition's voice, says Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former chief minister Mayawati on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government at the Centre of using investigative agencies to gag the opposition and cover up its own failures."To keep the opposition's mouth shut and cover up its own failures, the Central government is misusing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax, and other agencies," said Mayawati, while addressing an election rally here.She also claimed that the BJP will be thrown out of power due to its casteist and hate politics. "The BJP will be thrown out of power due to its RSS type thinking, casteist thinking, and hate politics," she said.She also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not fulfilling promises made to the people in 2014."Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not been able to fulfill even one-fourth of what he promised to youth, farmers, working professionals and to the Dalits, backward classes, Muslims, and other .
Why poverty still exists even after Gandhi family talked of removing it since independence: Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday hit out at the Congress party and its president Rahul Gandhi for promising to remove poverty, saying that similar statements were made by his party leaders in the past, but in vain."These Congressmen are saying that they will remove poverty if they are voted to power. I want to remind you that Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru too talked of removing poverty," he said."Indira Gandhi also talked about removing poverty. She even gave the slogan 'Garibi Hatao," Singh said, while addressing an election rally here."Rajiv Gandhi also talked of removing poverty and now even Rahul is talking of removing poverty," he added."Poverty could not be eradicated. Why? Rahul should answer that question. He has no answer for that," he said.Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said: "How a 'Chaiwala' removed poverty? I want to give you an example of that. American Think-Tank Brooklyn Institute has said that around 12.5 crore people were struggling with poverty ..
May condemns journalist's death during N Ireland riots
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday condemned the death of journalist Lyra McKee during riots in Northern Ireland's Londonderry, labelling the incident as "truly senseless.""The death of Lyra McKee in last night's suspected terrorist incident in Londonderry is shocking and truly senseless. My deepest condolences go to her family, friends and colleagues. She was a journalist who died doing her job with great courage," the UK Prime Minister tweeted.Police believe that the Dissident republicans or the Irish Republican Army (IRA), who do not support the current peace agreements in Northern Ireland, are responsible for the 29-year-old journalist's death, according to CNN.The journalist was shot in the riots which shook Londonderry late on Thursday. Over 50 petrol bombs were thrown at officers and gunshots were fired after a crowd gathered in the area on Thursday night.This comes right ahead of the Easter weekend, during which the IRA marks the anniversary of the 1916 Easter ...
Congress given last chance for alliance: Gopal Rai
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Rai said that his party on Friday gave the last chance to the Congress to form an alliance for the Lok Sabha election."Today also we have again given a chance. People of the country want that. We have given Congress the last chance to think it over, let's see what happens," Rai said here.This comes after Congress leader PC Chacko earlier said that AAP backtracked on the issue of forging an alliance with Congress after a final understanding over the seat sharing in Delhi was reached between both the parties."I had a discussion with AAP leader Sanjay Singh and we decided on a 3:4 formula. That was finally decided but then AAP was discussing some other states," said Chacko."I had always said the situation in one state is different than that in another state and whether there will be an alliance in other states or not we are ready for an alliance in Delhi. AAP finally agreed and we came to an understanding but today morning AAP is going back (on its ...
Modi graph going down, opposition graph going up, says Kapil Sibal
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Friday, said that the opposition was getting stronger while Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity is going down."I can see the graph of Modi is going down whereas the opposition's graph is going up including Congress and others. Response for the second phase is worrisome for BJP," Sibal said talking to reporters here.Earlier in the day, Congress had come out with another video regarding demonetised money and alleged that it was BJP which had engaged in the laundering of the old currency.Terming the demonitisation as the biggest scam in the history of the country, Sibal said,"This is the biggest scam in the history of the country. There can be some bankers, officials etc behind this."Sibal refused to comment anything on his party's former spokesperson, Priyanka Chaturvedi, who left the party to join Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, stating that it was between 'Congress and her' and also stated that he would not comment on the statement issued by ...
SC to hear next week plea seeking prosecution of voters indulging in poll fraud
The Supreme Court will hear on April 22 a petition seeking direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to prosecute voters who indulge in electoral malpractices during the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi has posted the matter for further hearing on April 22.The petition, filed by Karnataka-based society Lancha Muktha Karnataka Nirmana Vedike, through advocate KV Dhananjay, stated that "it is an offence for a voter to demand or receive money or gratification to cast or otherwise deal with his vote.""It is an offence for any person to attempt to impersonate another voter inside a polling booth, regardless of whether the attempt is successful or not."It submitted that the ECI should exercise powers under Article 324 of the Constitution and ask poll personnel to prosecute voters who indulge in electoral malpractices.The petition said that the ECI sends out voluminous directives repeatedly to its personnel with a public claim of securing a free .
Nepal President to address BRI forum in China
The President of Nepal, Bidhya Devi Bhandari, is scheduled to address the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRFIC), during her official eight-day state visit to China from April 24, according to an official press release.Apart from speaking at the BRFIC, Bhandari is also slated to hold delegation-level talks with her Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. She will also address the joint meeting of Nepal and China's business community in Beijing during her visit.The Nepalese President will also visit Xi'an, the capital city of Shaanxi Province, on her way to Beijing.The delegation accompanying the President consists of Nepal's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Chief Minister of Province Number 3, Dor Mani Paudel, Members of Federal Parliament, high-ranking government officials, the Ambassador of Nepal to China, and representatives from the private sector and media persons.Wrapping up her visit, she is scheduled to return to Nepal on May 2.
You have turned into leech: Sidhu to PM Modi
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi to leech and accused him of sucking the blood of common man while favouring few crony capitalists."The first thing that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government did after coming to power is that it de-regularised diesel. Earlier you could change the prices of petrol, but not diesel. But he de-regularised diesel," Sidhu said while further alleging that it was done to benefit some business houses."The NDA government increased the excise duty on petrol by 263 per cent and 400 per cent on petrol. Those who got directly affected by this were the middle-class people, working class and farmers," Sidhu said at a press conference here.The Congress leader said, "You have turned into a leech. You suck the blood of the common man."Quoting a person he had met earlier, Sidhu said: "I met a person who said about Prime Minister Modi, 'Aye they 2014 mein Ganga ke laal banke, jaoge 2019 mein Rafale ke dalal ...
Gaana main gaati rahungi: Priyanka Chaturvedi on her recent jibe at Smriti Irani
In reference to a song she sang to mock Union Minister Smriti Irani over her educational qualification, newly-inducted Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday said that she will keep singing songs to criticise the central government if it did something wrong."...Gaana main gaate rahungi (I will keep singing song)," Chaturvedi told ANI on being asked whether she will keep singing a song to mock the Centre.Shiv Sena is a BJP ally in Maharashtra and Chaturvedi joined the party shortly after she sent her resignation to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.On April 12, Chaturvedi who was then in the Congress, took a jibe on Smriti saying a new serial is going to come, titled "Kyunki Mantri Bhi Kabhi Graduate Thi (Once a Minister was also a graduate)" over her graduation degree controversy.In reference to Smriti Irani-starrer Hindi serial 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahun Thi', Chaturvedi had said, "A new serial is going to come - Kyunki Mantri Bhi Kabhi Graduate Thi. Its opening ..