Page 890 - Politics
'No single narrative but combination of issues in TN polls'
The polls to Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats and the by-elections for 18 assembly seats, both slated for April 18, are not driven by a single narrative but by a combination of several national and state-specific issues, say experts and stake-holders.
Inexperienced Ambani chosen by PM over experienced HAL: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal, saying he ensured "inexperienced" industrialist Anil Ambani got it, but not state-owned HAL which made some of the planes used in the Balakot air strike. The Indian Air Force carried out strikes on terror camps in Balakot in February, after the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF men were killed. Gandhi made the remarks at a rally here as he campaigned for Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan who is contesting from the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a state-run company that manufactures and maintains fighter planes. "Anil Ambani never made an aircraft but HAL knows how to make planes. They have been doing it for the last 70 years," Gandhi said. "The planes which did the air strikes in Balakot? HAL. Sukhoi, Jaguar, Mirage, MiG. HAL is a government company and is making planes for the last 70 years," he said. Gandhi said when ..
INS Magar loaded with relief material reaches Mozambique
Another Indian naval ship INS Magar Saturday reached Mozambique's Beira city loaded with suitable relief material, the government said. The ship handed over 250 tonne of rice and 500 kg of epidemic medicines for the population of Beira affected by Cyclone Idai. The material was received by Mozambican Minister of Agriculture Higino Francisco de Marrule, an official statement said. INS Magar cast off around on Sunday, it said. Three Indian Naval ships were among the first responders in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai in mid-March, providing rescue, medical care and relief to around 3,500 people in Beira. Local Indian community and Indian entities have also come forward offering their assistance, it said. The Mozambican government has expressed its gratitude for support and solidarity extended by Government of India. The professionalism, human approach and proficiency of Indian naval crew have received appreciation from the government and the people of Mozambique, as well as international .
Congress to blame for bad law & order in Rajasthan: BJP
Slamming the ruling Congress in Rajasthan over the incident of stone pelting during Ram Navmi procession in Jodhpur, state BJP President Madanlal Saini on Monday blamed the Congress for the worsening law and order situation in the state.
AAP gives option to JJP for 3 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana
The Aam Aadmi Party has suggested to the JJP that it be given three Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, choosing between either Gurgaon or Faridabad, Ambala or Karnal and Rohtak or Panipat, sources said. The names of the candidates will be released in a couple of days and the decision will be taken by the core committee comprising both members of the JJP and the AAP, they added. The AAP has suggested to the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) that it be given three seats, choosing between either Gurgaon or Faridabad, Ambala or Karnal and Rohtak or Panipat, the sources said. The AAP and the JJP had Friday announced firming up an alliance in Haryana to fight on all 10 Lok Sabha seats. The JJP was launched by former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala's grandson Dushyant Chautala, following a power struggle in the state's main opposition INLD last year. Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai said the JJP will fight on seven seats. Kejriwal had earlier proposed an alliance between the AAP, JJP and the ...
Mayawati's poll rally in Gujarat cancelled after EC order
A poll rally of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati scheduled here Wednesday stood cancelled following the Election Commission (EC) order barring her from campaigning for 48 hours starting 6 am Tuesday. Mayawati was scheduled to address her first election rally in Gujarat for the 2019 polls at Kankaria Ground here Wednesday and preparations for the event were on in full swing. However, the party has been forced to call it off in the wake of the order passed by the poll panel. "Behen Mayawatiji was scheduled to address an election rally in Gujarat on April 17. It has been cancelled after the Election Commission order. "We will see if the public meeting is rescheduled, but for now it stands cancelled," said Gujarat BSP secretary Pradeep Parmar. The BSP has fielded its candidates on all the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat which will have a single phase polling on April 23. The EC Monday "censured" Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Mayawati for their ...
DMDK chief Vijayakanth hits campaign trail
DMDK chief Vijayakanth, who has been keeping a low profile due to health issues, Monday campaigned here for candidates of the AIADMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. Seated in his campaign van, the yesteryear actor sought votes for his party candidate Azhagapuram R Mohanraj and Sam Paul (PMK) contesting from north and central Chennai Lok Sabha seats respectively. Vijayakanth made brief remarks and asked the people to vote for the drum symbol of his party and the mango symbol of the PMK a day before the campaign draws to a close. The DMDK chief had returned from USA in February this year after medical treatment and had presided over an event in which his party entered into a poll pact with the ruling AIADMK. Campaign for the Lok Sabha and bypolls in Tamil Nadu ends on April 16 and the State goes to polls on April 18.
FIR against Azam Khan for 'underwear' jibe at Jaya Prada; EC imposes 72-hour campaign ban
Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was slapped Monday with a poll campaign ban, an FIR and a women commission notice for his alleged "khaki underwear" jibe at BJP leader Jaya Prada, while the saffron party mounted a sharp political attack comparing his "disgusting" comments to disrobing of Draupadi in Mahabharata. The actor-turned-politician, who was earlier with the SP and has now been pitted by the BJP against Khan from Rampur Lok Sabha seat, demanded his immediate disqualification from contesting polls and said she had considered him a brother but he has now crossed the 'lakshman rekha'. After examining the remarks made at an election rally on Sunday by Khan, who has often stoked controversies with his speeches, the Election Commission on Monday night imposed a nationwide ban on him from campaigning for 72 hours, beginning Tuesday. During the last Lok Sabha elections in 2014, the EC had imposed a ban on Khan from campaigning in Uttar Pradesh for his provocative speeches and ...
Why Congress proposed 4-3 formula for alliance with AAP? Maken explains
The 4-3 formula suggested by Congress to AAP for an alliance in Delhi is based on the results of the 2017 municipal elections, former Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken explained Monday, hours after Rahul Gandhi accused Arvind Kejriwal of taking a "U Turn" on the issue. After Gandhi tweeted that the doors for a tie-up were open although time is running out, Maken on the social media platform explained how the Congress party's formula came about. "Why 4-3 formula between AAP-INC?" Maken tweeted along with charts to explain the rationale behind the formula based on the 2017 municipal poll results. His analysis in essence is based on the vote share and seats (wards) won by Congress and AAP in the municipal polls. As per Maken's charts, Congress won 31 seats and AAP won 49 seats, polling 21 per cent and 26 per cent votes, respectively, in the elections for three municipal corporations in Delhi. Further, as per vote share of Congress (21 per cent), he calculated the seat share of the party ...
How come all 'thieves' have Modi in their surnames, asks Rahul
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of corruption and asked how come all "thieves" have 'Modi' as the common surname as he referred to fugitive businessman Nirav Modi and former IPL chairman Lalit Modi. Gandhi made the remarks while addressing a rally in support of Congress's Nanded Lok Sabha seat candidate and the party's Maharashtra chief Ashok Chavan. Keeping up his attack on Modi on the Rafale fighter jet deal, Gandhi asked the prime minister how come industrialist Anil Ambani got the offset contract despite having no experience in manufacturing such planes. He reiterated his charge that Modi put Rs 30,000 crore of the people's money into Ambani's pocket by ensuring that the industrialist got the contract. Gandhi also challenged the prime minister for a debate on the Rafale deal and other alleged scams. In the past, Ambani rejected Gandhi's allegations and emphasised that the government had no role in Rafale maker Dassault ...
Yogi, Mayawati not first politicians to face EC ire
The ban on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections for 3 days over hate speeches is not the first punitive action by the Election Commission (EC) against erring politicians.
Church expresses regret over priest's 'hate speech'; probe on
An inquiry has been launched by poll officials in Goa into an alleged hate speech given by a Christian priest against the BJP even as the Goa Church has expressed "regret" over his statement. South Goa District Election Officer Ajit Roy has begun the inquiry on directions of Goa Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Kunal. A video of the priest from South Goa addressing some people inside a church has gone viral on social media. In the clip, the priest, who is speaking in Konkani, is seen criticising the BJP, party president Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and late Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar. The BJP's Goa unit had lodged a complaint against the priest on Sunday. "We are inquiring into the complaint. Right now we are going through the content of the tape," Roy told PTI. He further said the authorities will first check the origin of the tape, as part of the inquiry process. A complaint was also filed by a local resident, who alleged that through his speech, the ...
Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal engage in public spat on seat-sharing in Delhi
Amid a continuing blame game over seat-sharing in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal Monday engaged in a public spat, with the Congress president accusing the AAP of taking a U-turn over alliance talks and the Delhi chief minister hitting back. The Congress chief said that while the doors of his party are open, time is running out, but Kejriwal slammed him, questioning what U-turn was he talking about as the talks were still on. He also accused Gandhi of helping the BJP by "dividing anti-Modi votes in Uttar Pradesh and in some other states". Amid this sparring on Twitter, sources claimed the two sides were still "engaged" in taking the alliance talks forward and are likely to meet again on Wednesday over seat sharing between the two. The Congress chief said his party is willing to give four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi to the AAP to ensure that their alliance defeats the BJP, which had won all the seven seats in 2014. "An alliance between the Congress and the AAP in ...
EC order puts pause on hate speech campaigners: Congress
The Congress Monday welcomed the Election Commission's decision to bar Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati from campaigning for 72 and 48 hours, respectively, and said the poll panel has put a pause on those trying to spread hatred through their provocative remarks. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said he hopes that the Election Commission will continue its "even handed application unabated" howsoever high be the position the person concerned, who violates the law, occupies. "The Election Commission has pushed a pause button for hate speech campaigners who thrive on vitiating the atmosphere, dividing the people. The EC has left its stereo-typed practice of sending warnings and censures which such thick-skinned people simply laugh off, collect in their bag and become repeat offender. Such people needed a clear message that you can't take advantage by repeat habitual offences," he told reporters. Singhvi said if anyone who does the .
Cross-LoC bus service resumes after two week's suspension in J-K's Poonch
As many as 19 passengers, including eight women, exchanged sides as the weekly cross-LoC bus service resumed on Monday after remaining suspended for the past two weeks owing to heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Thirteen Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) residents, including six women, returned to their homes after spending time with their relatives on this side after reaching Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point by the weekly bus, they said. Similarly, the officials said, five Indian residents, including two women, walked into this side along with a PoK resident who has come to meet his relatives in Poonch district. The bus service, popularly known as 'Paigam-e-Aman' (message of peace), plies on Monday every week. Billed as the biggest confidence building measure, the bus service was started on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route in Kashmir in April 2005 and the Poonch-Rawalakot route in the Jammu region on June 20, 2006, to ...
PM's trying to mislead nation about Cong stand on national security: Azad
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad Monday claimed the NDA government has a "poor record" in dealing with terrorism and national security, while accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to "mislead the nation" regarding Congress' stand on these issues. The Congress leader alleged that a record number of major terrorist attacks on vital Army and security forces installations have taken place during Modi's rule with terrorism and infiltration being at their peak. "We seek an apology from the prime minister for trying to mislead the nation about the Congress' stand against terrorism and national security issues by stating that it wants to withdraw forces from Kashmir and compromise national security. "The Congress is committed to effectively dealing with terrorism and plugging infiltration from across the border," Azad said. Canvassing for party candidate Vikramadatiya Singh in Kishtwar and Doda districts under Udhampur parliamentary constituency, the former ..
Priyanka asks BJP leaders to treat Rajiv Gandhi as martyr
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday termed her father and late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as a 'Shaheed' (martyr) while asking BJP leaders to respect him just as they should respect other martyrs.Addressing an election rally, she said the BJP leaders, who claim themselves to be nationalists, should respect martyrs irrespective of their caste."BJP leaders claim that they are nationalists. If you are nationalists, then you must respect the 'Shaheed' (martyr), the Shaheed who are Hindu, those who are Muslims, and should also respect the Shaheed, who is the father of your leader of the opposition," said Priyanka."If you are nationalists, then stop disrespecting those freedom fighters who have laid the foundation of Independence. If you are a nationalist, then don't talk about Pakistan but about Hindustan at the time of elections," she said."It seems that this government is neither proud of the institutions of this country and is not proud of democracy. Had they been the real ...
FIR against Azam Khan for 'underwear' jibe at Jaya Prada; BJP leader seeks poll ban on him
Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was slapped on Monday with an FIR by the UP Police and a notice from the National Commission for Women for his alleged "khaki underwear" jibe against BJP leader Jaya Prada, while the saffron party mounted a sharp political attack comparing his "disgusting" comments to disrobing of Draupadi in Mahabharata. The actor-turned-politician, who was earlier with the SP and has now been pitted by the BJP against Khan from Rampur Lok Sabha seat, demanded his immediate disqualification from contesting polls and said she had considered him a brother but he has now crossed the 'lakshman rekha'. The Election Commission officials said they are examining the alleged remarks made by Khan, who has often stoked controversies with his speeches, and that the poll panel can even go beyond the ambit of the model code as the reported comments are not in a good taste. During the last Lok Sabha elections in 2014, the EC had imposed a ban on Khan from campaigning in Uttar
Patnaik ready to shun BJD's equi-distance policy
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headed by chief minister Naveen Patnaik Monday indicated it may shun its decade-old policy of keeping equal distance from both BJP and Congress after general elections and support the coalition that would support the just demand of Odisha. Patnaik's statement apparently made it clear that the regional party is ready to support any coalition in the interest of the state. Odisha has a total of 21 Lok Sabha seats. BJD which had won 20 out of them in last general elections still holds tremendous influence in the state. Ever since it severed alliance with BJP before the 2009 general election, the Biju Janata Dal has been claiming to be maintaining equal distance from both the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led UPA. "Whichever government supports the just demand of Odisha, we will support that coalition. Whether it is UPA, NDA or anyone," Patnaik told a new channel. Anyone could be interpreted as a grouping of regional parties which could emerge as a ...
Observers deployed in West Bengal say central forces adequately placed at polling booths
Police observers deployed by the Election Commission in West Bengal for the Lok Sabha election are leant to have rejected on Monday suggestions by political parties that central forces were not placed at polling booths. Sources said the issue came up for discussion Monday during a review of poll arrangements in specific constituencies of West Bengal and Tripura, going to polls in Phase 2 and 3. The review was held for Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Raiganj, Balurghat, Maldaha Uttar, Maldaha Dakshin, Jangipur and Murshidabad in West Bengal, and Tripura East Parliamentary constituency. The preventive actions taken against the identified troublemakers and potential intimidators were also reviewed. "The commission reviewed at length the Central Armed Police Forces deployment status in each of the Parliamentary Constituencies," an official statement said. Police observers briefed about preparation of district security or force deployment plan, use of central forces for area domination and ...