Page 875 - Politics
Star campaigners to descend on Gujarat for more poll rallies
With the date of voting nearing, campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections has reached a fever pitch in Gujarat which will see more rallies of top politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in the next few days. Besides Modi and Gandhi, the star campaigners for the BJP and the Congress, respectively, Union ministers Smriti Irani and Sushma Swaraj as well as Congress leaders Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sam Pitroda will address rallies and conferences in Gujarat, according to their parties. The home state of Modi, which has 26 Lok Sabha seats, will vote in a single phase on April 23. Modi will address four rallies in Gujarat over the next two days - in Himmatnagar, Surendranagar and Vallabh Vidyanagar Wednesday and in Amreli Thursday. He will cover Surendranagar, Sabarkantha, Anand and Amreli parliamentary constituencies through the rallies to be held over the next two days. Modi's last election rally in the state was at Junagadh on ..
View me as your brother: Rahul Gandhi to CPM in Kerala
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that members of CPM and all other political parties should view him as their brother, who will represent what is in their heart."View me as your brother, who will represent what is in your heart. It is with utmost humility that I say this and I say this not only to the members of Congress party but all Kerala people and members of all political parties including CPM and others," Rahul said while addressing a public rally here.The Congress leader said that he chooses to contest the Lok Sabha election from Kerala because it is the land of "different ideas" which needs to be represented. He said that he does not commit to learning the language of Kerala except a few words."When I first came to Kerala and signed my nomination paper, I made very clear that I am here to fight BJP and send a clear message that India is not just one idea but many ideas and South India needs to be represented," said Rahul Gandhi."I choose Kerala because it is the
Shakeel Ahmad files two sets of nominations from Madhubani
Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Shakeel Ahmad on Tuesday filed his nomination from Madhubani Parliamentary Constituency for the Lok Sabha Elections.Ahmad, who resigned as the senior spokesperson of the AICC on Monday, said that he has submitted two sets of nomination papers for Madhubani Parliamentary Constituency, one as an Independent candidate and the second set as Indian National Congress (INC) candidate.Talking to ANI, Ahmad said, "I have assured the Election agent that I will submit the party symbol within two days."The former senior spokesperson of Congress was unhappy after his traditional Madhubani seat went to ally Vikasheel Insaf Party (VIP) in Bihar as per the seat sharing agreement with the grand alliance there.As per the seat-sharing formula of the Grand Alliance in Bihar, the Congress is contesting on nine out of 40 Lok Sabha seats, the RJD is contesting on 19 seats while the remaining seats have been given to allies RLSP, HAM and VIP.Bihar voted for ...
Ferdous Ahmed blacklisted from campaigning in India; to be sent back
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday cancelled the business visa of Bangladeshi national Ferdous Ahmed, following his campaign for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal on Sunday.The MHA issued a notice to the actor, asking him to leave India for violating his visa conditions. He has been blacklisted from campaigning in the country.Earlier in the day, the MHA had asked for a report from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), over the issue.Ahmed on Monday had campaigned for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the Raiganj parliamentary constituency in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had strongly objected to the actor's campaign, alleging the violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC).Three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal - Darjeeling, Raiganj and Jalpaiguri - will go to polls in the second phase of elections on April 18. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Case filed against Sidhu for vote split warning to Muslim voters; BJP approaches EC
After Congress leader, Navjot Singh Sidhu in Bihar on Tuesday warned Muslims not to split their votes and instead defeat BJP by voting against it unitedly, a case was filed against him for violating the model code of conduct for elections. Meanwhile, BJP has approached the Election Commission against the cricketer turned politician.Alleging that Asaduddin Owaisi's party AIMIM was fielded to divide votes of the Muslim community the the Punjab minister appealed to Muslims to remain united to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha election.A case has been filed against Sidhu in Baroohi police station.Sidhu had said in a public meeting here," "I am here to warn my Muslim brothers. They (BJP) are dividing you. By bringing people like (Asaduddin) Owaisi in here, by making a new party stand for elections, they want to divide your vote for winning. If you people unite and vote unitedly then everything will overturn and Modi will be finished."Hyderabad MP and leader of the All ...
Kartarpur Corridor: India, Pak holds second round of talks
India and Pakistan on Tuesday, held a meeting to discuss the outstanding technical issues pertaining to the construction of Kartarpur corridor, according to government sources.The meeting comes after India postponed the second round of talks on corridor after reports surfaced about the appointment of "controversial elements" by Pakistan in a committee associated with the corridor.The two countries were previously slated to meet on April 2, in Pakistan for the second round of talks.Despite the postponement, India offered to hold a technical meeting to discuss other aspects, according to India's Ministry of External Affair Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.Local media has claimed that Pakistan has completed more than 50 per cent of the construction work of the corridor.The first round of talks between the two sides was held at Attari in Punjab on March 14, during which issues like finalisation of the draft agreement between the two countries were discussed.
Sudan military ruler sacks prosecutor general: Statement
Sudan's new military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan sacked the country's prosecutor general on Tuesday, the military council said, after protesters demanded he be fired. "Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has issued a declaration sacking the prosecutor general Omer Ahmed Mohamed," the council said in a statement. Burhan replaced Mohamed with Al-Waleed Sayyed Ahmed as the country's new acting prosecutor general, the council said. On Monday the group spearheading the protest movement against the old regime demanded the military council sack the prosecutor general.
Cong resorting to anti-India, anti-Army rhetoric out of insecurity: Jitendra Singh
Union Minister Jitendra Singh Tuesday accused the Congress of resorting to "anti-India and anti-Army rhetoric" out of insecurity, and asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never allow anti-nationals to succeed in their designs. On the last day of campaigning ahead of the second phase of polling on April 18, Singh, who is seeking re-election from Udhampur, addressed a series of meeting here and claimed that the poll this time is no longer confined to just electing a member of Parliament. "It is going to be a decisive battle to decide what kind of India we wish to leave for our children," he said. "Congress, its allies and all those political parties and leaders who have ganged up against the BJP and Modi, are feeling so insecure that they have resorted to anti-India and anti-Army rhetoric," Singh said. However, Modi will never allow anti-nationals to succeed in their designs, he asserted. The Union Minister claimed the Congress has become so "rattled" after being voted out of
Trinamool faces flak over Bangladeshi actors in campaign
West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress is drawing heavy flak from opposition parties, especially the BJP, for roping in Bangladeshi actors to boost the party's campaign in the state.
LS polls in Vellore in TN cancelled due to use of money power
The Lok Sabha election to the Vellore constituency in Tamil Nadu was cancelled Tuesday by the Election Commission (EC) two days ahead of the polling following recovery of huge amount of cash allegedly from an associate of a DMK leader recently. A government notification rescinding the polls said the EC was "fully satisfied that the current electoral process in Vellore has been seriously vitiated on account of unlawful activities of certain candidates and some workers of the political party." Perhaps, this is the first time election to a Lok Sabha constituency has been cancelled over use of money power. The byelection to RK Nagar Assembly seat in Tamil Nadu was cancelled in April 2017 following similar seizure of huge cash, allegedly meant for bribing voters. The cancellation of the poll, scheduled for April 18 along with 38 other constituencies in the state, evoked sharp reactions from the DMK which alleged it was an attempt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "besmirch"
Election in Vellore LS constituency cancelled
Polling in Vellore Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu was cancelled on Tuesday, two days after Income Tax officials seized Rs 11.5-crore cash from a warehouse in the district
Sabarimala:LDF govt violated centuries old custom, says Shah
BJP chief Amit Shah Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Kerala's CPI(M)-led LDF government over the Sabarimala women entry issue, accusing it of violating centuries' old customs and destroying the sanctity of the Lord Ayyappa temple. The BJP chief alleged that the State government unleashed violence on the devotees of Sabarimala under the pretext of implementing the Supreme Court order permitting entry of all women into the ancient shrine. "What message does Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan want to send to people through the violence on the devotees?" Shah said at an election meeting of BJP's candidate for the Thrissur Lok Sabha Seat Suresh Gopi in Thrissur. The BJP chief's attack on the left government comes two days after Vijayan claimed it was the Centre which had asked his government to impose prohibitory orders in Sabarimala during frenzied protests in 2018 over entry of women of all age groups into the shrine. Shah alleged that the government had ...
Netanyahu expected to receive formal nod to remain PM Wednesday
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to receive formal backing to remain premier for a fifth term Wednesday, but tough negotiations to form a coalition government await following last week's elections. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin must choose who will form the next government and is expected to pick Netanyahu to do so on Wednesday night after final election results are announced. Rivlin's office said Tuesday he planned to meet with his choice for premier at 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) Wednesday and both would speak publicly about an hour later. Projections based on results so far have given Netanyahu's right-wing Likud the most seats at 36, one ahead of his main rivals from the Blue and White alliance led by ex-military chief Benny Gantz. Together with allied right-wing and religious parties, Netanyahu is best placed to form a coalition with results showing they would control 65 seats in the 120-seat parliament. Rivlin wrapped up consultations with political parties on ...
179 polling parties deployed in J-K's Doda
Around 179 polling parties have been deployed Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district for Doda and Bhaderwah Assembly segments under Udhampur parliamentary constituency which is going to polls in the second phase on Thursday, officials said. The polling parties -- 73 for Doda and 106 for Bhaderwah -- left for the respective polling stations under the supervision of Doda District Election Officer Sagar Doifode, they said. Earlier in the morning, the polling parties reported at the respective dispatch centres where Electronic Voting Machine along with Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and other election material were made available to them. Later, accompanied by security personnel, the presiding officers and other team members, the polling staff left for their respective polling stations to undertake the voting process, to be held on April 18 from 7 am to 6 pm. In Udhampur parliamentary constituency, 12 of those in the fray are Tilak Raj Bhagat of Bhujan Samaj Party, ...
India cancels visa of Bangladeshi actor in campaigning row
The Indian government on Tuesday cancelled the visa of the Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed after he campaigned for a Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha candidate in Bengal.
Iran's top diplomat in Damascus ahead of Syria talks
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Damascus on Tuesday ahead of a fresh round of talks next week in Kazakhstan towards ending Syria's eight-year civil war. Iran and Russia are key allies of the Damascus regime, and along with rebel backer Turkey have sponsored the so-called Astana negotiations track to end the conflict. Kazakhstan is to host a fresh round of talks on April 25-26 in its capital, last month renamed from Astana to Nur-Sultan. In Damascus, Zarif and President Bashar al-Assad discussed "the next round of Astana talks and the importance of lasting communication between Damascus and Tehran for continued cooperation", the presidency said in a statement. Both countries are facing a flurry of sanctions by Western nations including the United States, with Washington this month designating Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisation. Syria is in the grips of a growing fuel crisis that it blames on these sanctions. Zarif and Assad ...
Two days before poll, IT searches Kanimozhi's house
Income Tax officials and the Election Commission's static surveillance team on Tuesday carried out a joint search at the house of DMK Lok Sabha candidate K. Kanimozhi in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukodi on Tuesday, an official said.
Modi to address traders in Delhi at Talkatora stadium on Apr 19
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a thanksgiving convention at Talkatora stadium here on April 19 organised by traders supporting the BJP to express "gratitude" for various measures promised in the party manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, Delhi BJP leaders said Tuesday. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said the party manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls has "raised hopes" of the people including traders in the country who want to bring Modi back as prime minister. Union minister Vijay Goel earlier said prominent business leaders and office-bearers of all market associations in Delhi have been invited to "Rashtriye Vyapari Dhanyawad Mahasammelan". "Crores of traders want to express their gratitude to the Prime Minister for the BJP's Sankalp Patra promising measures like accident insurance of Rs 10 lakh, pension after 60 years, traders credit card, simplification of GST and also exemption from income tax up to Rs 5 lakhs," Goel said Tuesday. Delhi BJP chief Tiwari claimed only the .
Campaigning ends for Srinagar, Udhampur LS seats
Poll campaigning for the two Lok Sabha seats of Srinagar and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) ended on Tuesday evening. The voting is scheduled for Thursday.
BJP urges EC to review decision banning Yogi from campaigning
The BJP Tuesday urged the Election Commission to review its order banning Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from campaigning for 72 hours, claiming he did not intend to incite communal tension and had only expressed his beliefs. A BJP delegation including Union ministers J P Nadda, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and V K Singh also asked the EC to take action against cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu alleging that he tried to "spread hatred" with his speech in Bihar's Katihar constituency on Monday. Defending Adityanath, Nadda said, "We have urged the EC to review its decision banning Yogi Adityanath for 72 hours from participating in poll campaign. Yogi ji only expressed his beliefs and did not intend to seek votes or influence any community." "We have requested the EC to review the decision to ban him and keep in view our right to retort and response," the Union health minister told reporters. The poll watchdog served a notice to Adityanath on Monday after he, while ...