Page 883 - Politics
BJP recognising "good" work of UP ministers with LS poll ticket
The BJP has so far given Lok Sabha tickets to four Uttar Pradesh cabinet ministers. Mukut Bihari is the latest minister to be fielded for the LS polls. The Bharatiya Janata Party in its first list had named Minister for Animal Husbandry, Minor Irrigation and Fisheries S P Singh Baghel as its candidate from Agra (SC). The names of Minister for Women, Family, Mother and Child Welfare Rita Bhauguna Joshi (Allahabad) and Minister for Khadi Village Industries, Sericulture, Textile, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Export Promotion Satyadev Pachauri (Kanpur) were announced by the party in its tenth list of candidates on Wednesday. Cooperative Minister Mukut Bihari's name figures in the 21st list released by the party on Monday. Joshi, who is presently also the tourism minister in the cabinet headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, had contested the 2014 General Elections from Lucknow Parliamentary Constituency on a Congress ticket and lost to the BJP's Rajnath Singh. "Seeing their ...
Kumaraswamy's son on sticky wicket in Mandya
Who will win Mandya Lok Sabha seat? It's a million dollar question that has split this Vokkaliga bastion wide open. The contest between two debutantes Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil and independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh is likely to go down to the wire. Will it be "Dodda Gowdara mommaga" (Deve Gowda's grandson) or "Mandya da Sose" (daughter-in-law of Mandya) is the point of discussion, whether in sugarcane fields or at road-side tea stalls, suggesting the JD(S) candidate is on a sticky wicket. Mandya, known as "Sakkare Naadu" (land of sugarcane), has been the hotbed of Cauvery politics and the present contest has made it no less than a sensational drama. There are 22 candidates in the fray, but the straight contest is between Nikhil, Congress-JD(S) joint candidate, and Sumalatha, backed by BJP. Nikhil, 31, is the third-generation political entrant from former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's family, and Sumalatha, 55, is the widow of popular ...
Pak Army bars Asad Durrani, 2 ISPR ex-DGs from appearing on media as defence analysts
Pakistani spy agency ISI's ex-chief Lt Gen (retd.) Asad Durrani and two former head of the military's media wing have been denied permission by the army to appear on media as defence analysts. In a notification issued on Monday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the military - has allowed 26 retired officers of the armed forces to appear on media as defence analysts. "The prominent omissions are Brig (retd.) Mahmood Shah, Lt Gen (retd.) Asad Durrani, Lt Gen (retd.) Talat Masood, Maj Amir (retd.) and DG ISPR Maj Gen (retd.) Athar Abbas and Maj Gen (retd.) Rashid Quershi," the Dawn reported, citing the notification. Seven retired Lt Generals are among those allowed to appear on media as defence analysts. "Their views/comments/opinions on media shall remain personal/independent expression and not attributable to the institution," the notification said. It also said that any other retired officer desirous of appearing as defence analyst can contact the ISPR to
PM slams Rahul Gandhi over "all Modis are thieves" remark
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his "why are all Modis thieves" barb, adding using derogatory language has become synonymous with the "naamdar" (dynast). Addressing a rally here, Modi said it has become a fashion for the "naamdar" to speak in derogatory terms. "Is this the language to speak? We have to throw out such people. Abusive language is the norm. The Sahu community here would have been called Modi in Gujarat. Are they all thieves," Modi said. Targeting the Congress, Modi said naxal influence in the area where BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi was killed by them, had been considerably reduced. "Why did this happen now," he said, referring to the naxal attack which claimed Mandavi's life. Mandavi and four security personnel were killed last Tuesday when their convoy was attacked by naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. Modi claimed that the Congress was "hand in glove" with naxals. "Perpetrators of violence and terror are .
More than 60,000 people flee Nicaragua crisis: UN
More than 60,000 people have fled the crisis in Nicaragua over the past year, the UN said Tuesday, with neighbouring Costa Rica bearing the brunt of the refugee flow. The central American country has been gripped by a year of political unrest since months of street protests erupted last April against President Daniel Ortega's government, leaving more than 325 people dead. The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said that an estimated 62,000 people had fled to neighbouring countries -- 55,000 of them to Costa Rica. People "have resorted to irregular crossings to avoid detection, often walking for hours through difficult terrain, exposed to heat, humidity and the risk of malaria," UNHCR said in a statement. Those seeking asylum in Costa Rica include "students, former public officials, opposition figures, journalists, doctors, human rights defenders and farmers," the agency added. Government talks with the opposition aimed at easing the crisis broke up last week without agreement on ...
Rahul Gandhi visits kin of late KC(M) leader KM Mani
Congress President Rahul Gandhi Tuesday paid a visit to the bereaved family members of Kerala Congress (M) leader and former state minister K M Mani, who died last week. Gandhi, who reached here Monday afternoon after addressing election campaign meetings in Pathanapuram and Pathanamthitta, spent around 10 minutes with the family members of the late leader of Kerala Congress (M) at his residence here. Mani's son and Rajya Sabha MP Jose K Mani received Gandhi and the Congress leaders who accompanied him, at his residence. Before meeting the family members, Gandhi paid floral tributes to Mani's photo kept at the residence. "He (Mani) was a towering leader, voice of people of Kerala. So it is an honour for me to come here and pay my respects," Gandhi told reporters after meeting Mani's family members. He said Mani, as a senior leader with tremendous experience, was "somebody I would listen to and appreciate." Gandhi was accompanied by senior Congress leaders including ...
Shatrughan Sinha's wife Poonam joins SP
Bollywood actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha's wife Poonam Sinha joined the Samajwadi Party here Tuesday. "Poonam Sinha has joined the Samajwadi Party in presence of SP leader Dimple Yadav in Lucknow," said the Samajwadi Party in a tweet. The party's official Twitter handle also carried a picture showing Poonam Sinha joining the party in the presence of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav, an MP from Kannauj. Sinha is likely to be fielded from Lucknow seat against Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is a BJP candidate, said party sources. Singh filed his nomination from the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat on Friday. Lucknow is going to polls on May 6 along with a total of 51 constituencies across seven states in the fifth phase of elections.
Rajnath Singh files nomination papers for Lucknow seat
Union Home minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday filed his nomination papers for the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat after holding a roadshow in the Uttar Pradesh capital, where BJP supporters turned up in large numbers and showered flower petals on him. Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma and former Union minister Kalraj Mishra, Singh submitted his election affidavit to Lucknow District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma. Earlier in the day, Singh took out a roadshow which passed through Hazratganj, one of the arterial roads in the capital city, where BJP workers turned up to show their support to the leader. Hazratganj sported a floral look as BJP supporters showered flower petals on Singh as he led the roadshow on his way to file nomination papers. Seeking a second term in the Lok Sabha from Lucknow, Singh, who was accompanied by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in a special vehicle, stopped to offer prayers at the Dakshinmukhi ...
Ball in AAP's court to take a decision on alliance in Delhi: Congress
The Congress Tuesday asserted that it has shown a "big heart" by agreeing to form an alliance with the AAP in Delhi and said the ball is now in the court of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party to take a decision. A day after Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal indulged in a public spat over the issue, the grand old party said it has already offered AAP four seats in the national capital and now the decision has to be taken by it. "Party president Rahul Gandhi has made it pretty clear that an alliance can be formed just in Delhi in a ratio of 4:3," he told reporters, in response to a question on alliance. "People have expressed their doubts to us over AAP but despite that we have shown a big heart and for a common objective we have agreed to form an alliance in Delhi. Senior party leader Randeep Surjewala has made it clear on the party's stand on alliance in other states," he said. He accused Kejriwal of playing "hide and seek" and said Gandhi has made ...
Kremlin: Putin-Kim summit details not clear yet
The Kremlin spokesman says it is not clear yet when and where the Russian president and the North Korea leader will meet for a rare summit. Dmitry Peskov said Monday details are still being worked out on the rare talks between Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Peskov has confirmed reports that the preparations for the meeting are underway. Kim's previous major negotiations, with US President Donald Trump in February, collapsed after the two sides failed to bridge their differences over US sanctions and the North Korean nuclear programme. Putin has publicly supported the talks between Trump and Kim but said that North Korea needs to be given solid security guarantees if it were to give up its nuclear arsenal.
Congress-led govt at Centre "absolutely necessary": Pondy CM
Asserting that a Congress-led government at the Centre is "absolutely necessary," Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy Tuesday said the NDA government was meting out 'injustice' to states and more particularly the Union Territory. "We should dislodge the Narendra Modi headed government and ensure that a Congress led government under leadership of Rahul Gandhi is installed in office in the wake of the coming Parliamentary elections," he said during his campaign in support of the secular progressive alliance nominees in some of the peripheral Assembly constituencies. Alleging that non-BJP ruled states were now in an "utterly sad predicament" with the Centre's "negative" stand towards their development, the senior Congress leader said the NDA government was doing "injustice" to Puducherry. He further alleged that Lt Governor Kiran Bedi has been "preventing" implementation of welfare schemes proposed by elected government. If a Congress headed government was installed at
'Country will be safe from terror attacks only if Modi is once
Taking a swipe at the opposition grand alliance for not naming the Prime Ministerial candidate, BJP chief Amit Shah Tuesday wondered how they expected to run the country without a leader if they came to power and said the nation would be safe from terror attacks only if Narendra Modi was once again installed in the post. "Can Mahamilavat- Congress and JD(S) keep the country safe? Can they give a befitting reply to terrorism and Pakistan? They cannot keep this country safe. To keep the country safe BJP has to come to power with Narendra Modi as Prime minister once again," Shah said addressing a rally at Davangere. The BJP president he had travelled extensively across the country during the last four months and had only heard the slogans of 'Modi, Modi' and said the party had decided to strenghten the country by making Modi Prime Minister again. "On the one side BJP and all parties of NDA are ready to face this election under the leadership of Narendra Modi. We have ...
Govt has taken steps to ensure central funds reach poor: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said his government has taken measures to weed out Congress-aided middlemen to ensure that the entire central funds percolate down to the poor. He also announced a slew of measures for the welfare of farmers and fishermen, if the BJP was voted to power. Mounting a blistering attack on the Congress, Modi accused it of being a silent spectator to the loot of public money besides being embroiled in multiple controversies and scams before the BJP-led government put brakes on these corrupt practices. "During the Congress era, only 15 paise of a rupee would reach the poor and the rest was swindled by unscrupulous elements. No one bothered to stop it. Now, we have ensured that central funds reach the poor," Modi said, addressing a rally here in western Odisha. "People have seen a helpless and corrupt government in the past, and rampant corruption charges in the form of sugar scams, ration scams and the urea scandal," he said. The Congress ...
AAP accuses Congress of helping BJP; shows interest in taking alliance talks forward
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday accused the Congress of helping Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that the talk of the alliance is stuck as Congress is willing to let BJP win on several seats."Haryana, Delhi and Chandigarh together have 18 seats. The Congress is saying that let them win on three seats; AAP will win four seats and let BJP win on 11 seats. We do not want to give BJP a single seat. The matter is stuck here," AAP Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai tweeted."Why does Congress want to let BJP win on 11 seats?" he asked.Meanwhile, AAP has again expressed interest in taking forward the discussions on seat-sharing in the three states.AAP leader and Delhi's deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, "AAP has authorized Sanjay Singh to talk to the Congress. Rahul Ji should also authorise a Congressman who could sit with the AAP to form a strategy to defeat the BJP on all 18 (Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh) seats."With a long suspicion over the alliance, the Congress-AAP war of .
Rajyavardhan Rathore files nomination from Jaipur rural LS seat
Union Minister and BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Tuesday filed nomination papers from Jaipur rural Lok Sabha seat.Rathore was also accompanied by his wife Gayatri Rathore as well as Yog guru Ramdev."I hope to get people's support in large numbers. In history, every country was run with the guidance of sants and gurus. It is unfortunate that political leaders in India have parted their ways from sants, mahatmas and gurus and got engulfed in corruption," Rathore said after filing his nomination."But I am moving ahead with blessing of my elders and guru," he added.Extending full support to Rathore, Ramdev said: "Rathore is the pride of India. Modi ji should again be given a chance to come to power. In all aspects, the nation is safe and secure in the hands of Modi Ji. Rathore is working towards the development and progress of his constituency.""Today I am here to bless him and I am sure he will win. I know the nation will again give Narendra Modi a chance to become the prime ..
K'taka: EC flying squad inspects Yeddyurappa's luggage at helipad
The flying squad of the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday inspected the luggage of former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa at a helipad in Shivamogga.The details regarding whether the EC made any seizure are awaited.Earlier, the Income Tax department had seized Rs 1.66 crore in cash during raids conducted across Karnataka. On March 28, a total of 24 premises were searched by the IT Department.Karnataka will go to polls during the second and third phases of Lok Sabha polls on April 18 and April 23 respectively. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Democracy in danger, says Chandrababu Naidu, continues tirade against EVM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of betraying the nation while asserting that the democracy is in danger and usage of EVMs must be stopped.Holding a media briefing in the presence of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Dayanidhi Maran and other leaders of his party, Naidu said, "I want to appeal to Tamil Nadu voters that democracy is in danger. Narendra Modi has done so much injustice to the nation and betrayed the nation."Continuing with his tirade against EVM, he said the machine is not used by most of the countries in the world."Out of 10 populous countries, only three are using it partially. Germany one of the most advanced countries technologically started EVM in 2005 and discontinued its usage in 2009. Similarly, Netherland and Ireland also stopped it due to different concerns," he said.Claiming EVMs are vulnerable, Naidu said, "Even yesterday, CEC agreed on malfunctioning of EVM. There is neither .
PM Modi installed CCTV cameras at polling booth to see who voted for Congress: BJP leader Ramesh Qatar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has installed CCTV cameras at the polling booth to scrutinise who voted for the Congress party, claimed BJP MLA Ramesh Qatar while putting a fear in the minds of voters on Tuesday.Qatar was campaigning for the BJP candidate Jasvantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor in Dahod."Who voted for BJP and who for Congress could be seen as Prime Minister Modi has installed cameras this time. If there are fewer votes from your booth, then he will come to know who did not cast vote for him," Qatar said while addressing a public meeting.Further threatening the electorates with unemployment, he added: "Those who will not vote for the Prime Minister, they will get no jobs."Bhabhor is contesting from the Dahod parliamentary constituency. He is the sitting MP from the seat.Gujarat will see polling in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 23. The counting of the votes will be done on May 23.
Navy Chief to undertake two-day bi-lateral visit to Thailand
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba will leave for Thailand for a two-day bilateral visit from April 17 to 19 on Wednesday.The visit is aimed at enhancing the maritime relations between the two nations, a press release from the Navy said on Tuesday."The two-day visit of the Navy Chief is intended to consolidate and enhance the maritime bilateral relations between India and Thailand and also to explore new avenues of defence cooperation," it added.During the visit, Admiral Lanba will hold bilateral discussions with General Ponpipaat Benyasri, Chief of Defence Forces, Royal Thai Armed Forces, Admiral Luechai Ruddit, Commander-in-Chief Royal Thai Navy and other senior government officials.In addition to holding important bilateral discussions, the Admiral will visit the Royal Thai Navy and Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Bangkok and the 3rd Naval Area Command at Phuket.The release further informed that both countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1947. ...
I am fighting for the people, not against any party or leader: Prakash Raj
Actor-turned-politician Prakash Raj, who is contesting from Bengaluru Central constituency as an independent candidate, on Tuesday said that he was contesting the elections on behalf of the people and not against any political party or a leader."I'm not fighting against anyone. I am fighting for the people. It's we who are the majority. In a democracy, if you choose the right leader, people win, if you choose the wrong leader, people lose," he said.Agreeing with Janata Dal (Secular) president and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, who had earlier said that he did not think either NDA or UPA will be able to bring a full majority in 2019 elections, Raj said people too have started thinking along the same lines. "It's good that he Gowda) has realized this, the people too are realizing it slowly," he said.Raj said that he was in support of the ongoing Income Tax raids happening across the country. The government agencies should be allowed to do their job and it was not a cause of worry .