Page 898 - Politics

LS Polls: Congress fields Gopal Sahu from Hazaribagh seat

Congress party on Monday announced that Gopal Sahu will contest the ongoing Lok Sabha polls from Hazaribagh constituency.Congress has entered into a coalition with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik-JVM) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Jharkhand.There are 14 Lok Sabha seats at stake in the state, polling for which will be held in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh phases of polling - on April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19 - respectively.Counting of votes will take place on May 23.

BJP-Congress workers clash at Matondkar's rally

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress workers clashed at a rally being addressed by Congress Mumbai North candidate and Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar here on Monday morning.

NCW urges EC to act against Azam Khan for sexism

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Monday urged the Election Commission (EC) to take "strong and appropriate" action against Samajwadi Partys (SP) Azam Khan for his sexist and below-the-belt "khaki" comments on BJP rival Jaya Prada.

India successfully test fires Nirbhay missile

India successfully test fired a sub-sonic cruise missile Nirbhay off the Odisha coast on Monday.

BJP will respond to Manguli Jena's murder not by bullet but by ballot: Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday accused Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of shedding crocodile tears over the killing of BJP worker Manguli Jena in Khordha district and said that the party will respond to it by ballot and not bullet.Jena was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified bike-borne miscreants near his party office on Sunday evening, the police said.Condemning the murder of Khordha Mandal president Manguli Jena, Pradhan said, "We have to respond to his death not by the bullet, but by ballot. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen babu is shedding crocodile tears. The incident like this in a democracy is condemnable."The BJP leader's reaction came after Patnaik, condemning the incident, said: "I strongly condemn the heinous murder that has taken place in Khordha and requested the Election Commissioner to direct the police to take strict action against those involved.""Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Odisha on April 16. We were making arrangements for ..

FIR against Azam Khan for derogatory comments against Jaya Prada, UP CEO seeks report

An FIR was filed on Monday against Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan for his derogatory comments purportedly against actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada.Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer has also taken cognizance of the derogatory remarks and has sought a report on it. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also sent a notice to Khan over the remark.Addressing a rally in the presence of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Azam Khan in a disparaging remark said, "I brought her (Jaya Prada) to Rampur. You are a witness that I did not allow anyone to touch her body. It took you 17 years to identify her real face but I got to know in 17 days that she wears khaki underwear."However, asserting that he did not name anyone, the SP leader later said that he would withdraw his candidature from the ongoing polls if proved guilty."I have said that people took time to know the real face in reference to a man who once said that he brought 150 rifles with him and if he saw Azam, he

Golan is Syrian territory: Iraq

Iraq on Sunday rejected US "unilateral" proclamation to recognise Israel's sovereignty on Golan Heights, saying Golan is Syrian territory."US president Trump's proclamation on Golan is unilateral and it violates the international legitimacy... Iraq doesn't recognize it," Sana quoted Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali al-Hakim as saying."Golan is a Syrian territory and the international resolutions recognize Syria's sovereignty on Golan," he added.The US got global condemnation after US President Donald Trump signed an official decree in Washington DC on March 26, in the presence of Israel's President Benjamin Netanyahu, to recognise Israel's sovereignty on the Golan Heights.The proclamation escalated the tensions between Syria and Israel. Scores of Syrians hit the streets to protest against US decision.Israel had formally annexed the territory in 1981 after capturing the region from Syria during the six-day war in 1967. The Israeli annexation has long been decried by the world ...

Not fighting on all seats in UP sign of Congress accepting defeat: Smriti Irani

Congress not fielding candidates in all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh (UP) is a sign of accepting defeat even before the start of the elections, said Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on Monday and added that the voters of Amethi should, therefore, side with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to stay on the winning side."By fighting in just approximately 20 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP, Congress leaders have themselves accepted they don't have the strength to fight and win in the state. Why then should you side with the Congress, come and vote for BJP," said Irani at an election rally here."For 15 years the Amethi MP has stayed away from his constituency, neither has he spoken on behalf of Amethi in the Parliament. Had it not been necessary to file nomination papers and organise election campaigns, he would never have set foot in this area. Absent from the constituency, silent in the Parliament, of what use is such a leader," she asked.The BJP leader also promised ...

Elderly leaders revered only in BJP: UP Dy CM

Even as the opposition parties accuse the BJP of sidelining its stalwarts in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma on Monday said elderly leaders were revered only in the saffron party. "What happened to former prime minister and Congress stalwart PV Narasimha Rao after his death is known to all of us. No one had gone to pay respect to the departed soul. Similarly, former Congress president Sitaram Kesri's end was very tragic. Apart from this, an office-bearer of the party (Congress chief Rahul Gandhi) had once torn a copy of a legislation passed by the Manmohan Singh government. Will they teach us how to show respect to our elders? It (Congress) is a party that alienates the elderly people," Sharma told PTI. "On the contrary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked in the funeral procession of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Such is the quantum of respect in the BJP for its stalwarts. Both Atalji and (LK) Advaniji are our idols," he

North Korea marks founder's 107th birth anniversary

North Korea on Monday celebrated the 107th birth anniversary of its founder Kim Il-sung with festivities.

Country heading towards coalition govt: Siddaramaiah

The country was heading towards a coalition government as neither the Congress nor the BJP are unlikely to get an absolute majority despite claims by political leadership, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Monday. He said the mood of the country is clearly in favour of bringing in a UPA government to reject communal and divisive forces. The senior Congress leader observed that neither of the two national parties were in a position to cross the 150 mark out of 543, despite claims to the contrary by BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In Karnataka, he said the Congress along with its ally JD(S) is expected to win around 20 seats out of 28 parliamentary constituencies. The first phase of polling is scheduled on April 18 in the state. Talking to PTI in an exclusive interview during a campaign trail, Siddaramaiah said: "Both Congress and BJP appear not to be in a position to get an absolute majority on their own. The UPA will however get a clear ...

Watch Modi biopic and then decide, SC tells EC

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Election Commission to watch the movie "PM Narendra Modi" and then take a call on its screening.

Himachal BJP chief makes obscene slur for Rahul Gandhi, Cong demands apology

Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti used derogatory language against Congress president Rahul Gandhi and asserted that the latter should not call Prime Minister Narendra Modi "chor" (thief) when his entire family is out on bail."Rahul Gandhi is out on bail, his mother is out on bail, his brother-in-law is out on bail, and yet he calls the Prime Minister a 'chor' (thief). Modi ji is not even on bail, there is no case against him then who are you to call him (Modi) a chor like any judge? A Punjabi man asked me to convey this to you with a heavy heart, and that inspires me to tell you this. If this country's 'chowkidar' (watchman) is a 'chor', then you are a m********," he said at a rally here on April 13.The remark has irked the Congress, who has demanded an apology from the BJP leader."The government has failed in the last five years and they are speaking like this. The public does not like this kind of language. It is very shameful the way comments are being made on leaders.

EX-Mizoram Governor claims PM Modi 'planned' Pulwama attack

Former Governor of Mizoram and Congress leader Aziz Qureshi has claimed that the ghastly terror attack in Pulwama that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel was "planned" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi."This was done with planning (Pulwama attack), but people understand everything. If PM Modi wants to anoint himself by sacrificing the lives of 42 jawans then people will not let that happen. (Plan karke aapne ye karwaya taki apko mauka mile, lekin janta samajhti hai. Agar Modi ji chahein ki 42 jawanon ki hatya karke, unki chitaon ki raakh se apna rajtilak kar lein, janta nahi karne degi)," he said.Qureshi further said that the BJP has failed to name its candidate against Congress leader Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh as they are afraid of losing. "BJP leaders are afraid of losing against Singh and now they are finding it difficult to field a candidate from Bhopal."He also claimed that Congress will win more than 20 out of 27 seats in Madhya ...

Demand for 50% paper trail verification "unreasonable": Ex-CEC

Former Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy Monday termed as 'unreasonable' opposition parties' demand to verify at least 50 per cent of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He reiterated that EVMs are credible even without VVPAT. "And this has been confirmed not by me, but by technical experts, and nobody has still been able to find out any fault; there can be human errors in operating machines," Krishnamurthy, who oversaw the 2004 general elections, told PTI. Demanding 50 per cent paper trail verification, particularly in the light of the Supreme Court judgement, is unreasonable, according to him. Krishnamurthy was referring to the SC earlier this month directing the Election Commission to increase random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs from one polling booth to five booths in every Assembly segment. "As far as VVPAT is concerned, the opposition, particularly if they lose elections, will say ...

PM Modi to file nomination on April 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to file nomination from Varanasi parliamentary constituency next week.Sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who are in charge of planning his election schedule, told ANI that Prime Minister Modi may file the nomination on April 26.The BJP workers and leaders are working on a plan to organise a two-day mega programme in the run-up to the filing of nomination during which Prime Minister Modi will hold two road shows in the constituency.According to sources, Prime Minister Modi would reach the city on April 25 and will head for a road show from Banaras Hindu University to Dashashwamedh Ghat.The later part of the day has been reserved for a visit to the Kaal Bhairav Temple following which he will participate in the Ganga Aarti on the ghats of the holy city.On the same day, PM Modi would spend time with party workers and intellectuals, sources added.For the next day, the Prime Minister is expected to begin his schedule with prayers at the ...

SC told EC is 'toothless' on hate speech

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine statements made by political leaders violative of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) after the Election Commission admitted it was "toothless" and "powerless" vis-a-vis hate speeches made during the election campaign.

Stones hurled at Mehbooba's motorcade in Anantnag district of J&K

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's motorcade came under stone-pelting in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday while she was returning from a shrine there, officials said. Mehbooba had gone to a shrine at Khirram in Anantnag district to pay her obeisance and was returning to Bijbehara when the incident took place, they added. One of the spare vehicles in the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister's motorcade was damaged in the stone-pelting and the driver was hurt, the officials said. Others in the entourage, including the PDP president, escaped unhurt. Mehbooba is contesting the ongoing Lok Sabha election from the Anantnag seat, which she had won in 2014. The south Kashmir constituency, spread over the four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian, is going to the polls in three phases from April 29 to May 6.

Mehbooba's cavalcade stoned in Anantnag

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's cavalcade was attacked on Monday by stone-pelters in Anantnag district.

Implement Nyay scheme in your states, Maha FM dares Cong

Maharashtra Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has dared the Congress to implement its minimum income guarantee scheme called Nyay in states by ruled by it. In an interview to PTI, he said the Congress itself knew its ambitious poverty-alleviation scheme was not implementable. The Congress, in its manifesto, has said that 20 per cent poorest families in the country will get Rs 72,000 annually as part of its Nyunatam Aay Yojana (Nyay). When asked about the Nyay scheme, the minister said, similarly, in 2004, the Maharashtra Congress government under Sushil Kumar Shinde had promised free electricity, only to raise tariff by Re 1 per unit in six months. Shinde also promised food grains at Re 1 per kg, but the then Congress president later called it a "printing mistake", he said. Similarly, a Congress promise during the recent Rajasthan Assembly elections of allowance for unemployed people is yet to to be fulfilled. "There can be sunrise at midnight but Congress cannot have