Page 902 - Politics
Rahul's public utterances show his frustration: BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Sunday slammed the Congress President for attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi continuously over the Rafale fighter jet deal and said Rahul Gandhi's public utterances reflected his frustration.
Border Personnel Meeting between armies of China and India held in eastern Ladakh
A ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) was Sunday held between the armies of India and China in the eastern Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Baisakhi, a defence spokesman said. The meeting was followed by a ceremonial address comprising exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks, the official said. "A ceremonial border personnel meeting (BPM) on the occasion of Baisakhi festival was conducted today at the Indian BPM huts at Chushul-Moldo and DBO-TWD meeting points in eastern Ladakh," he said. The official said the Indian delegation was led by Brig V K Purohit and Col Prashant Rana, while the Chinese delegation was led by Senior Col Yin Hong Chen and Col Song Zhang Li. The ceremonial BPM commenced with saluting the respective national flags by the delegation members, he said. The address reflected a mutual desire of maintaining peace and improving relations at the functional level, the spokesman added.
AAP strengthens social media team for LS polls
To gear up for the Lok Sabha polls and "expose" the reality of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs from the national capital, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday strengthened its social media team.
BJP, Cong leaders accused of voter inducement, threat in Guj
Separate incidents of alleged inducement and threat to voters, purportedly involving leaders of the BJP and the Congress, have come to light in Gujarat in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections. An audio tape of BJP candidate from Rajkot Lok Sabha constituency Mohan Kundariya allegedly threatening a Congress member of the Rajkot district panchayat for votes has gone viral, whereas Congress' Panchmahals nominee V K Khant is purportedly seen distributing money to voters in a photo, which is also circulated on social media. Both the leaders have refuted allegations against them. Kundariya, a sitting MP, said the purported audio tape is a handiwork of the Congress, while Khant said he never distributed cash to voters. In the audio clip, Kundariya can be purportedly heard telling Nanu Dodiya, a member of the Congress from Rajkot district panchayat, that if he doesn't ensure that 75 per cent votes from his Kothariya village are cast in favour of the MP, the latter will close down .
Ukraine leader puts on one-man show as vote frontrunner skips debate
Ukraine's leader on Sunday held a one-man debate next to an empty lectern, roused thousands of supporters at a stadium and even sang, as a comedian tipped to become the next president skipped the event before a high-stakes run-off vote. A week before the second round of voting, President Petro Poroshenko failed to lure his rival Volodymyr Zelensky for a policy debate and chose to walk it alone at Kiev's Olympic Stadium as several thousand supporters flooded a nearby square. Inside, two podiums were set up at the stadium's make-shift press centre and a moderator set down rules in front of journalists. Outside the sports arena that seats 70,000 people the Ukrainian leader's supporters chanted "Poroshenko." Poroshenko, a 53-year-old tycoon who came to power after a popular uprising in 2014, has been eager to spar with the 41-year-old political novice and accused his rival of avoiding hard-hitting questions. He said he would respect the "choice of the Ukrainian people" if Zelensky were ...
BJP may get 30 out of 42 LS seats in West Bengal: Vijayvargiya
BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Sunday said the party may end up getting 30 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, as there is a "severe undercurrent" in the ruling Trinamool Congress. "We were expecting around 23 seats in West Bengal... now going by the current situation and the severe undercurrent in TMC, it seems even 30 seats are quite possible," Vijayvargiya told reporters at the party office here. He claimed that many senior TMC leaders would join the BJP after the Lok Sabha polls, and that the state government would fall within six months. "I think the backward counting has already started for the TMC... the lifespan of the Mamata Banerjee government will not last for more than six months," Vijayvargiya said. Describing entire West Bengal as "sensitive", he said the BJP has urged the Election Commission to deploy central forces and install CCTVs in all booths of the state, for the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP national ...
Israeli delegation cancels talks at Bahrain conference
Israeli speakers scheduled to appear at a business conference in Bahrain next week have cancelled their talks over "security concerns", organisers said on Sunday. At least three Israeli speakers, including the Israel Innovation Authority's deputy chief Anya Eldan, had been due to address the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Manama. Their attendance at the four-day event that starts on Monday had been condemned by members of parliament in Bahrain, which does not recognise the Jewish state. "While we advised the Israeli delegation they would be welcome, they decided this morning not to come due to security concerns and a wish not to cause disruption for the other 180 nations participating," said Jonathan Ortmans, founder and president of the Global Entrepreneurship Network. Israel has official diplomatic relations with only two Arab states, neighbouring Egypt and Jordan. Israel has long faced resistance to its efforts to improve ties with Arab nations because of its 50-year ...
Yechury slams BJP, Trinamool's 'competitive communalism'
CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday accused both the BJP and West Bengal ruling's Trinamool Congress of resorting to "competitive communalism" over Ram Navami celebrations and warned of the dangers of such practices on "democratic civil activities".
Rahul Gandhi to address rally in Gujarat on Monday
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a rally in Rajula town under Amreli Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat on Monday, a party functionary said. "Rahul Gandhi will address a rally in Rajula. Although the town is located in Bhavnagar district, it is a part of Amreli Lok Sabha constituency," state Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said on Sunday. "The idea behind organising the rally in Rajula is to be able to address the people of three Lok Sabha seats of Amreli, Junagadh and Bhavnagar," he said. The party has also organised some more rallies of Gandhi in the week, Doshi said. Election for all the 26 seats in Gujarat on April 23.
India would not have to face terrorism had Vallabhbhai Patel been first PM: Manoj Sinha
Union minister Manoj Sinha Sunday said that had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been the first prime minister of the country, India would not had to face the menace of terrorism. He was addressing a programme held here in Maupara village. "Had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been the first prime minister of the country, India would not have to face the menace of terrorism. The Congress's policies pertaining to terrorism were bad earlier and are now as well," the Union communication minister (independent charge) said. "Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the entire world against terrorism, but due to the wrong policies of the Congress, the country's enemy gets help," he said. Sinha also took a jobe at BSP chief Mayawati, saying, that those who gained power using the name of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, forgot his policies after coming to power. He urged the public to be cautious of such leaders. "The BJP follows the principles of Babasaheb, and is working for the upliftment of the downtrodden
'Action against disgruntled leaders who stayed away from Rahul
The Karnataka Congress Sunday indicated action would be taken against disgruntled leaders who stayed away from the Congress-JD(S) joint rally, attended by AICC chief Rahul Gandhi Saturday at K R Nagar under Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, where Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamys son Nikhil is the coalition candidate. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief Dinesh Gundu Rao said he had also instructed senior partymen and Ministers D K Shivakumar and M B Patil not to make any public statements on the Lingayat issue as he tried to distance the party from the controversy. "On Mandya, what should be done we have already discussed. I have also held discussions with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. We have come to a decision on what kind of action should be taken," Rao told reporters here in response to a question about the absence of the disgruntled leaders. "Not attending the event of Rahul Gandhi is a serious issue, but how action should be taken, where and when, we will do ..
SP-BSP formed alliance to keep themselves afloat in UP: Rajnath Singh
Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the alliance of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was formed to keep the two parties from being wiped out from Uttar Pradesh (UP) politics."SP-BSP have joined hands to stop PM Modi's return to the centre, both know the Modi wave will blow them away and this is what compelled them to join hands despite their obvious differences," said Rajnath Singh."I would like to urge SP to learn from our mistake, we had tied hands with BSP in 2002 state elections, when I lost and we stayed out of power in UP for fifteen years, only in 2017 could we come back to power," he said.Targetting Congress he said that the party had fooled the public for decades with their false claims."From the times of Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira to Rahul Gandhi promises were made by the party to remove poverty but it is nothing but a set of lies. I believe the day Congress is wiped out from the country it will become free of poverty too," Singh said.The Home Minister ..
Madhya Pradesh e-tender scam: EOW arrests state govt employee
Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Saturday arrested State Electric Development Corporation ODS Nand Kumar Brahme in connection with the e-tender scam.He is accused of manipulating the data of the bids that were to be issued by the government.This is the first arrest of a government official in the alleged scam.On Thursday, EOW had raided the office of an IT company OSMO IT Solutions and arrested three of its directors in connection with the case.EOW had lodged an FIR against three IT companies in connection with the case last year.The companies are accused of allegedly hacking and manipulating the online platform of the state government. This was done to favour some private companies by seeing the e-tenders even before the bids were opened.
Azam Khan makes below the belt 'khaki' comment on Jaya Prada
Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former minister Azam Khan on Sunday made a below the belt 'khaki' comment on Jaya Prada, who is contesting the Lok Sabha poll from here on the BJP ticket."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 underp****," said Khan while addressing an election rally here.Khan, who is in the fray from Rampur on the SP ticket, made the obnoxious remark in the presence of former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and other senior party leaders, who were present on the dais."BJP candidate! You told TV channels after performing 'puja' that there is a 'daanav' in Rampur. I have to finish. I did not know what 'daanav' meant. My Hindu friends told me that it means 'rakhshas," said Khan."Remember for two people I was expelled from the SP. I did not rebel. I did not complain and I waited. I did not change the boat," ..
Congress will never allow a person like me to become CM: Pramod Sawant
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said that the Congress will never allow a common worker like him to rise to the post of chief minister of a state, which is possible only in his party BJP."I have grown from a party worker to the post of CM. I don't think the Congress will ever allow any booth level worker to become the Chief Minister. My father was not an MLA or an MP. He was a common worker of the party," said Sawant.He said the present state government is a continuation of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar-led coalition and will implement his vision in the next three years."I am yet to complete one month. We have to follow the vision of Parrikar, who always asked us to be positive.""If he were alive, he would have told that Narendra Modi should be made next Prime Minister. If we want to fulfill his wish, then we should win both the seats," said the Chief Minister."Last two years, it was Parrikar-led government. For the next three years also it would be Parrikar ...
TDP youth wing leader attacked, hospitalised
TDP youth wing, Telugu Nadu Students Federation's district president Tirumala Naidu was allegedly attacked with iron rods on Sunday here in Nellore.Naidu has been admitted to a local private hospital where he is undergoing treatment of "critical injuries" on his head and hand.TDP has alleged that the attack is the handiwork of the Nellore cadre of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP)Reportedly, a few hours ago before the attack, Tirumala Naidu is said to have discussed with district leaders of the party about the alleged "life threats" he was receiving.Earlier on April 11 polling in Andhra Pradesh was marred with violence, as multiple clashes broke out between workers of Telugu Desam Party and YSRCP across the state.Polling was held on Thursday for 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh.
Libya crisis: Sisi meets Haftar in Cairo; UN says 121 dead, over 500 injured
Quoting the spokesperson, Al Jazeera, reported that Sisi has been an ardent supporter of Haftar's forces, which controls parts of eastern Libya. However, no other details about the meeting were available.On Saturday, an air raid by Haftar's forces hit the yard of a school on the southern outskirts of Tripoli, where Haftar's forces have been confronted by forces allied to United Nations-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj.According to the state media, the LNA forces are currently preparing a unit to move to Libya's biggest Es Sider and Ras Lanuf oil ports located on the eastern coast of the country, anticipating an attack from an armed group allied to al-Serraj, eastern military officials said.Meanwhile, Tripoli government spokesperson Mohanad Younes was quoted as saying that Tripoli will only agree to a ceasefire only if the LNA troops return back to the east.Haftar announced an attack against Tripoli on April 4 to capture the capital and the entire west of Libya from the UN-backed .
Modi, Shah 'biggest enemies of people': Farooq Abdullah
NC president Farooq Abdullah Sunday dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah "biggest enemies of people", alleging that they want to divide the country. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister made the remarks at a public meeting in Mir Bahri Dal. "PM Modi and Shah are the biggest enemies of people who believe in dividing the nation on basis of caste, creed and religion. But the people have made it a point not to fall prey to the divisive agenda of the BJP," Abdullah said. The National Conference (NC) patron accused the BJP of trying to divert people's attention by propping up emotive issues. "These people want to change the very framework of the Constitution of India, which grants equal rights and opportunities to everyone. It is the Constitution of India which grants rights to profess any faith. It is the same Constitution that confers upon our state certain constitutional safeguards," Abdullah said. "It is the same Constitution which grants our state a ...
RJD star campaigner Lalu's absence felt in poll season
His son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav is trying his best and so is his wife Rabri Devi, but the absence of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief - and star campaigner - Lalu Prasad is being earnestly felt by the party as the 2019 Lok Sabha polls are underway.
SP will face consequences of aligning with BSP: Rajnath
Seeking to drive a wedge between alliance partners SP and BSP, Union minister Rajnath Singh Sunday said Samajwadi Party will have to bear the consequences of teaming up with the Mayawati-led party in the Lok Sabha elections. Addressing an election meeting at Dataganj here, he said, "... Samajwadi Party (SP) does not know what big mistake it has committed by forging an alliance with the BSP. It will have to bear the consequences." Earlier this year, BSP supremo Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav announced that they will fight from 38 and 37 seats, respectively while leaving two for the Congress in Uttar Pradesh. The seats that were left out by the SP-BSP alliance included the Gandhi family's stronghold of Amethi and Raebareli. The Union home minister also said that barely 13 days after the Pulwama terror attack, 'revenge' was taken. "Congress and other opposition parties started demanding proof as to how many terrorists were killed, how many camps were destroyed... had it been one