Page 845 - Politics
Undercurrent in favour of Congress; Modi a 'failed' PM: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday claimed there is an undercurrent in favour of the Congress and Narendra Modi who has "failed" as Prime Minister is losing the 2019 general elections. Gandhi said the Congresss Nyay scheme has given a big jolt to Modi. "There is an undercurrent in favour of the Congress party. I am touring all over the country and atmosphere is good for us," he told reporters after addressing an election rally here in Gujarat. Gandhi went on to say that Modi is losing the 2019 elections as he is a "failed" Prime Minster. The Congress leader reiterated his charge of corruption in the Rs 58,000-crore Rafale deal. "The real issues this elections are unemployment, suffering of farmers and corruption. In the Rafale deal, Prime Minister has given a free gift of Rs 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani. "Now, it has been published in the newspapers of France that they were given tax benefits in that country. Unemployment is at 45-year high," he said. "So, he is a ..
Libyan prosecutors issue arrest warrant for Haftar
Tripoli, April 18 (IANS/AKI) Military prosecutors in Tripoli have issued an arrest warrant for eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar and six of his aides, the Defence Ministry of Libya's internationally recognised government said in a statement on Thursday.
Iraq frees Frenchman, says entered Syria to 'support Yazidis'
An Iraqi court said Thursday it had released a French national who spent two months in detention after being transferred from war-ravaged Syria as it found no proof he fought there. Instead, the Baghdad court said, their interrogations had found the unnamed Frenchman travelled to Syria "in support of the Yazidi cause". In February, the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group handed to Iraqi authorities 13 French nationals caught in IS's dwindling "caliphate" in east Syria. All 13 were thought to be members of IS's feared contingent of foreign fighters, and Iraqi President Barham Saleh pledged they would be tried "according to Iraqi law". But as Iraqi prosecutors began investigating, "terrorism" cases were only prepared against 12 nationals. On Thursday, the Karkh Special Investigations Court for Terrorism Issues in Baghdad announced it "let go one of the 13 accused French nationals due to a lack of evidence". After months of investigations, the court said, "there was no ...
Tripura Cong chief slaps IPFT man inside police station
Tripura Congress president Pradyot Dev Burman courted controversy on Thursday after he was seen in a CCTV footage slapping a supporter of the IPFT, an ally of the ruling BJP, inside a police station. Police arrested the IPFT supporter earlier in the day on the charge of trying to attack the convoy of Congress' Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Dev Burman in Khowai district of Tripura on Thursday. Pragya is the sister of the state Congress president. The accused supporter of the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) allegedly tried to throw brickbats at the convoy of the candidate but he was captured by the security guards escorting her car, Deputy Inspector General of Police Arindam Nath said. The incident took place while Pragya was on her way back from a rally at Tulashikhar, a tribal hamlet in Khowai district. Pragya Dev Burman is the Congress candidate for East Tripura (ST) constituency which will go to polls on April 23. "We were returning after attending a public ...
If bike was not of Pragya's, then car 'used in Mumbai blast' didn't belong to Rubina: Owaisi
Aurangabad (Maharashtra) [India], Apr 18 (ANI): AIMIM leader and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday said that if the bike used in Malegaon blast in 2008 did not belong to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, then Maruti car used in Mumbai blast in 1993 did not belong to Rubina, sister-in-law of Tiger Memon."Sadhvi Pragya says the bike (allegedly used in Malegaon blast) was not hers, then Maruti van (used in 1993 Mumbai blast) did not belong to that woman (Rubina, wife of Tiger Memon's brother -- Suleiman) either. Why don't people go to the court and say that Maruti van was not registered in her name," said Owaisi, while addressing an election rally here.An abandoned Maruti van belonging to Rubina from Memon family was said to be the key to investigators, which helped them to crack the case and nab all the suspects in the 1993 blast case. She was convicted by the trial court in the case."BJP is making those accused of terrorism their candidates. That is why we have to stop the BJP and ...
PM Modi did in 5 yrs what Congress couldn't do in 55: Ram Madhav
Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Ram Madhav Thursday said what Prime Minister Narendra Modi did in five years, the Congress could not do in 55 years. He was addressing first-time voters at a function organised in Delhi University's Daulat Ram College. "There are more than 12 million young voters in the country which can make any government," Madhav said. He said the youths have the power to build a new India with their votes. The youth of India is "superior" to the youth of any country in the world, Madhav said. "The new voters of the country have got the world's best leadership in the form of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Youths are credited with making Swachh Bharat Mission successful in every corner of the country," he said. For the first time in the country, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, there is a government which has done work in five years which Congress had not done in 55 years, he claimed. "There is no single charge of corruption on the present ...
Cong is talking about poverty removal since Nehru's time: Shah
BJP chief Amit Shah hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday for talking about poverty eradication, saying that during the 55-year-rule of the Congress, it could not remove poverty. Shah held a campaign rally here Thursday for Raosaheb Danve, the Maharashtra BJP chief who contesting from the Jalna Lok Sabha seat. Past Congress prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh spoke about poverty eradication, and now Congress president Rahul Gandhi, "a fifth generation leader", is talking about the same, he said. The country was safe in prime minister Narendra Modi's hands, the BJP chief said. "If Pakistan fires a bullet, we respond with a bomb," Shah said. Talking about the National Register of Citizens, he said, "We will find out every infiltrator from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and throw them out of the country." Rahul Gandhi and NCP president Sharad Pawar were appeasing infiltrators and talking about their human rights, the BJP ...
MP poll authorities ban Cong ad campaign targeting PM
Poll authorities in Madhya Pradesh have banned the Congress's advertisement campaign 'chowkidar chor hai' in the state and an Election Commission officer said Thursday that the decision could have a pan-india impact. The order to ban the campaign was issued by Madhya Pradesh's Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Rajesh Kaul, on Wednesday. Kaul has informed all district officials in Madhya Pradesh that the media certification and inspection committee had cancelled the advertisement's certification and it should be banned across the state. The ban by the state's poll authorities will have a pan-India impact as other states and district-level media certification committees will take cognisance of the decision when the advertisement comes up for approval, a senior EC officer indicated to reporters here. The Congress's 'chowkidar chor hai' slogan is targeted at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who refers to himself as 'chowkidar' (watchman). There is no centralised media certification committee to
BJP Latur candidate, Maha minister violated poll code: Cong
The Congress Thursday accused BJP candidate from Latur, Sudhakar Shrungare, and Maharashtra minister Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar of violating the model code of conduct by allegedly trying to allure voters while polling was underway. It has demanded that the Election Commission (EC) cancel candidature of Shrungare and file case against Patil for violating the code of conduct. Latur was among the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra where polling was held Thursday. According to a Congress statement, while polling was on, Shrungare spoke to Patil Nilangekar over mobile phone with its speaker on about people not casting their votes as they had not received money under the government's crop insurance scheme. "Then the minister assured he would speak to district collector and tehsildar about it and give the insurance money. To allure voters while polling is on is violation of the model code of conduct," Maharashtra Congress general secretary Abhijit Sapkal alleged in the ...
Won't allow Modi to create two Indias: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of favouring the rich and giving a raw deal to farmers, and said he will not allow the creation of "two Indias". Gandhi addressed poll rallies at Vanthli in Junagadh district and at Bhuj in Kutch district, ahead of April 23 Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat . Speaking at Vanthli village, he promised that if voted to power, the Congress will introduce a separate budget for the farming community and a ministry to exclusively address issues of fishermen. "For the last five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to create two Indias. One for the people like Anil Ambani, Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi. Modi fulfils all their demands. "Another India is of the poor, small traders and labourers....Congress will not allow Modi to create two Indias. If we are having one flag then we must have one nation. If Ambani gets justice, then farmers too should get it," Gandhi said. He promised that the Congress will waive ...
Rahul's public speeches have high humour quotient: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Thursday took potshots at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying his speeches have high "humour quotient" and he need not be taken seriously. Addressing a poll rally at Sankhalim in support of BJP Lok Sabha candidate Shripad Naik, he said Gandhis speeches are known for his curses against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also for their "humour quotient". "Rahul Gandhi's speeches are known for two things. One is that he utters curses against Prime Minister Modi and second is that he is known for his jokes," Fadnavis said. "Like the way television channels run their serials with disclaimers that they are not responsible for the content, Rahul Gandhi's speeches should also be run with the disclaimer that whatever he says is not a reality," the BJP Chief Minister said. Taking a jibe at the Congresss 'Nyay' scheme, that promises to provide Rs 72,000 per year to the five crore poorest families, Fadnavis said Gandhi is not sure from .
Puducherry logs 80% polling in Lok Sabha battle
Polling for the lone Puducherry Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday saw 80 per cent turnout while the by-election for Thattanchavady Assembly seat saw 77 per cent voting.
Opposition approaches Bengal CEO for central force use
Delegations of Left parties, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party approached the Election Commission on Thursday detailing various irregularities and incidents of vioence in the second phase of Lok Sabha election in West Bengal and demanded more number of central forces for the subsequent rounds.
Northern states take stock of preparations for polls
Officials from five northern states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh on Thursday took stock of the preparations for Lok Sabha elections.
Congress' Wayanad message is appeasement: PM
Slamming Congress President Rahul Gandhi for contesting from Wayanad in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed out that the only message that's being sent out is appeasement politics.
Four possible toehold spots for BJP in Kerala (IANS Special)
The BJP secured 10 per cent or more votes on nine Lok Sabha seats in Kerala in 2014 but barring Thiruvananthapuram, it came nowhere near even the victory mark. However, in 2019, riding on the Sabarimala sentiment, the party sees a realistic chance for itself on at least four seats -- Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta and Kasargod.
Uddhav slams Mehbooba Mufti over her Article 370 statement
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray Thursday accused PDP president Mehbooba Mufti of fielding "extremists" in the Lok Sabha polls and asked if it was not a form of terrorism to say Kashmir will not be a part of India if Article 370 is abolished. Addressing a public rally in the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency, he asserted that if the BJP-led NDA comes to power, Article 370, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will "definitely" be abolished. "I read somewhere, (Mehbooba) Mufti bai, from Kashmir, said the BJP gave Pragya Singh Thakur (Malegaon blast accused) poll ticket from Madhya Pradesh against (Congress candidate) Digvijay Singh. "What is the allegation against her (Pragya)? Suspected Hindu extremist. Then Mufti bai asks will it be OK if we give ticket to suspected extremists...What have you been doing? You have been doing this only (giving tickets to extremists)," he said. Thackeray said the BJP and the NDA in their manifestos have promised that
BSP's Rajveer Singh files nomination from North East Delhi LS seat
Bahujan Samaj Party's Rajveer Singh, who is making his electoral debut, filed his nomination from the North East Delhi parliamentary constituency on Thursday. Singh, a marble businessman and a social worker, has declared movable and immovable assets worth over Rs 9.2 crore. He has shown over Rs 1.32 crore as income in his last year's Income Tax returns, while his wife Seema Singh has declared Rs 22.06 lakh as income for the last fiscal. Rajveer Singh has shown an income of Rs 8,30,690 for last year as a Hindu Undivided Family beneficiary. He has declared a liability of Rs 53,84,646.76, which include car loans. His wife has a liability of Rs 1,27,64,644 which a includes home loan. He has a liability of Rs 2,25,96,872 as a HUF beneficiary. Rajveer Singh, who has been a BSP worker for quite some time, claimed that he has a good relationship with BSP supremo Mayawati. "I got ready to contest from the North-East Delhi Lok Sabha seat on her order. For me there is nothing more than her ...
Mueller report released; confirms Russian meddling in 2016 US Presidential elections
The United States Department of Justice on Thursday released a redacted version of the special counsel Robert Mueller's report.The 22-month long investigation into the alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 Presidential election was unable to clear US President Donald Trump in the matter, stating that the President's action and intent "present difficult issues that prevent us from conclusively determining that no criminal conduct occurred," reported CNN.Titled "Report on the Investigation Into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election", the report further states that the Trump campaign knew they would benefit from Russia's illegal actions to influence the action, but did not take criminal steps to help."After nearly two years of investigation, thousands of subpoenas, and hundreds of warrants and witness interviews, the special counsel confirmed that the Russian government-sponsored efforts to illegally interfere with the 2016 presidential election, but did not find that ...
'Kerala mein kushti, aur Delhi mein dosti': PM Modi slams Cong, CPI (M); questions Rahul Gandhi for contesting from Wayanad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Wayanad stating it was "appeasement politics".PM Modi also questioned why the Congress leader could not contest from Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala's capital if he wanted to send a message to the South."Congress president had to come to Wayanad here to secure his place in Parliament. He says he will not speak a word against CPI (Marxist). Kerala mein kushti, aur Delhi mein dosti, yahi inka khel hai," PM Modi said while addressing a rally here."Congress' 'Naamdaar' says he is contesting from Wayanad because he wanted to send a message to South. Couldn't you contest from Trivandrum to give the message? It is the capital. It is not a message to South, but a message of appeasement politics," he added.The Prime Minister further slammed the Congress party and CPI (Marxist) for creating tensions in Kerala. "It is in front of you what the Congress and the Communists have done to the ...