Page 905 - Politics
Lalu Prasad Yadav mocks Modi via dubsmash video
Amid the heated Lok Sabha poll campaigns making the rounds on social media, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav shared an old dubsmash video of himself mouthing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words promising "achche din" back in 2014.
Congress says PM "cheated" devotees on Sabarimala
The opposition Congress in Kerala Sunday attacked the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Sabarimala issue, saying people would not tolerate the 'drama' being played by the saffron party in the name of Lord Ayyappa and that the devotees have been "cheated". Hitting out at Modi and the BJP, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal alleged that the party had "cheated" the devotees and "are sincere to Sabarimala only when it comes to election and voting". The senior Congress leader alleged that the Centre and the state were hand-in-glove for having worsened the Sabarimala issue. "Why is the Prime Minister playing a drama over Sabarimala? I had brought up the matter in Parliament on January 4. I had sought legislative intervention to protect the rights of the believers. Has the Prime Minister or his minister ever uttered a single word on the issue in Parliament?," Venugopal asked. Recalling that the NDA had brought forward an ordinance to validate the ...
Modi attacks Pb CM for skipping Jallianwala Bagh commemoration ceremony
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday hit out at Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for not attending a function presided over by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu to pay tributes to those killed in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. "There is a difference between 'rashtra bhakti' (patriotism) and 'pariwar bhakti' (loyalty to family). I have known Capt Singh for decades and never questioned his patriotism. But I can understand the pressure built on him for this 'pariwar bhakti' and the tactics being adopted in Punjab. The captain too had to bend before it," Modi said. The prime minister was addressing an election rally here in support of Union minister Jitendra Singh who is seeking re-election from the Udhampur parliamentary constituency. This was the second election rally addressed by Modi in the Jammu region during the past 18 days. Referring to Punjab chief minister's absence at the commemoration ceremony organised by the Union Ministry of Culture, he said, "It is necessary to expose ...
UN envoy holds 'substantial' talks with Syria FM in Damascus
The UN envoy for Syria held "substantial" talks Sunday in Damascus with Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on efforts to find a political settlement to the country's eight-year-long war. "We have had very detailed substantial discussions," Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen told reporters after the meeting. "We are now addressing all the issues so all the issues are at the table," he said, without specifying. The envoy said he was set to hold more talks with Syrian officials later in the day. "Let's see how we are able to proceed later this afternoon," he added. State news agency SANA said Pedersen and Muallem discussed ongoing efforts to advance Syria's political process, including moves to form a committee tasked with drawing up a post-war constitution. They also spoke about the envoy's diplomatic activities since his last visit to Damascus in March, SANA added. Pedersen arrived in Damascus on Saturday, in his third official visit to the country since assuming his post in January. He ...
Priyanka won't make difference to Congress in UP: BJP MP (IANS Interview)
BJP's Bulandshahr MP Bhola Singh, who won the 2014 election by over four lakh votes, is hoping to increase his victory margin this time around as he dismissed the BSP-SP-RLD alliance as of no consequence and said Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi was a flop.
Kumaraswamy says Modi is PM with 'percentage background'
Hitting out at Narendra Modi's "20 per cent government" jibe at the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Sunday alleged he was a Prime Minister with a 'percentage background' and had no other issue to speak about. Modi had attacked the Congress-JD(S) coalition Friday at a rally at Gangavathi over its alleged corruption and dynasty politics, labelling it as a "20 per cent government" and saying their only mission was "commission." On Saturday too addressing a rally here, he had berated the government, saying "earlier there was 10 per cent, now it has become 20 per cent, 30 per cent." "What other issue has he (Modi) to speak other than percentage?... Narendra Modi's behaviour and if you see his background, he is a Prime Minister with percentage background, so he doesn't come out of that domain and always thinks about percentage. We cannot expect anything else from him," Kumaraswamy told reporters here. He also reacted strongly to ...
Demand of Cong, regional parties for separating J&K exposed: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday targeted the Congress and regional parties, including National Conference and PDP, saying their demand for separating Jammu and Kashmir from India has been exposed like Pakistan's nuclear threat had been "deflated". Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, he said addressing a poll rally here in support of Union minister Jitendra Singh, seeking re-election from the Udhampur seat. Modi said the BJP is duty-bound to party's ideologue Shyama Prasad Mukherjee who raised tricolour on this land and scarified his life asserting that "Ek desh mein do vidhan, do pradhan aur do nishan nahi chalenge (a single country cannot have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two national emblems)". "In the recent past, you saw how 'mahamilawat' of the Congress, the National Conference and the PDP got exposed. What was in their hearts for decades and for which they were working clandestinely has come out in the open. "Everyday they are threatening to ...
My fight is for protection of democracy: Andhra CM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday that his fight for replacing EVMs with ballot papers is to protect democracy in India.
People want to get rid of terrorism, those in 'maha milawat' want to remove Modi: PM
Attacking the anti-BJP alliance formed for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said while people wanted to get rid of terrorism, those in the "maha milawat" wanted to remove him from power. Addressing a poll rally here, Modi asked the crowd, "Tell me whether terrorism should be eliminated or not, whether we should enter Pakistan and kill the terrorists, whether we should conduct surgical strikes and airstrikes, whether our jawans should get a free hand or not? Has your chowkidar done the right thing?" The crowd replied, "Yes." Hitting out at the anti-BJP alliance, the prime minister said, "You are saying terrorism should be eliminated, but those in the maha milawat say Modi should be removed. This will help them run their politics, but will it be beneficial for the country? "Imagine only for a second that if there was a small goof-up in the surgical strike or airstrikes carried out by us, wouldn't all of them have ripped Modi apart (Modi ki chamdhi ...
Pawar's remarks against Parrikar uncalled for: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Sunday said NCP president Sharad Pawar's remarks that former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar quit his post at the Centre and returned to Goa as he did not agree with the Rafale fighter jet deal, were uncalled for. Fadnavis also said that despite his ill-health and just about a week before his death, Parrikar had expressed a wish to hold at least two campaign rallies for Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Talking to reporters, the chief minister said, "Even Rahul Gandhi had earlier tried to make similar comments (against Parrikar), which was a very crass attempt. At that time Parrikar was alive and he had given a strong reply. But making similar comments after Parrikar's death, I think is uncalled for." Parrikar had given straight answers earlier as well, he added. "Parrikar was such a person that he had even expressed a wish to hold at least two campaign rallies during the 2019 general elections .
Army officer dies after falling into gorge in J-K's Kupwara
An Army officer died after falling into a gorge near the Line of Control (LoC) in Machhil sector in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said Sunday. Major Vikas Singh slipped into a gorge and suffered critical injuries during a patrol along the LoC in Machhil sector on Saturday, an Army official said. The officer was rushed to a hospital from where he was shifted to the Army's 92 base hospital at Badamibagh Cantonment here, he said. However, he succumbed to injuries at the hospital on Sunday, the official said.
All party meeting an exercise to find excuses for the impending massive defeat: BJP
The BJP Sunday termed the opposition parties meeting in Delhi an exercise "to find excuses for their impending massive defeat" in the Lok Sabha polls. The opposition alliance is a misnomer because most of them are fighting elections separately, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said. "The so called all party meeting convened in Delhi is nothing but a confession of defeat by the so called Mahagathbandhan. They are already trying to find excuses for their impending massive defeat. "They have not only failed to mount a challenge against the BJP in this election but have also failed as an opposition in the last five years," Rao said. Raising doubts over the credibility of EVMs, a number of opposition parties, including the Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Samajwadi Party, CPI and CPI(M), Sunday said they will move the Supreme Court again to demand verification of at least 50 per cent of votes by paper trail. The people are delivering a massive blow to "this negative opposition" and ...
Pak releases another 100 Indian fishermen as goodwill gesture
Pakistan has released another 100 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture amidst tensions between the two countries after the Pulwama terror attack. The fishermen released on Saturday were part the second batch of 360 Indian prisoners Pakistan has announced to set free in four phases this month. Pakistan had released first batch of 100 Indian fishermen on April 7. Another 100 Indian fishermen were released from Malir Jail in Karachi as a goodwill gesture, officials said. They were being taken to Lahore through train where they would be handed over to the Indian authorities at Wagah border on Monday. The fishermen were arrested for fishing illegally in Pakistani waters during various operations. Pakistan had released first batch of 100 Indian fishermen on April 7. Another 100 will be freed on April 22 and the process will be completed on April 29 when 55 fishermen and 5 prisoners shall be released. Pakistan and India frequently arrest fishermen as there is no clear demarcation of the .
BJP, Centre responsible for Mayapuri violence: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday accused the BJP of being directly responsible for "the barbaric repression let loose on the traders of Delhi's Mayapuri by the Modi government controlled-Delhi Police and paramilitary forces".
Apple slammed for blocking Tiananmen-linked songs
Apple is being slammed by US Congress members for censoring content on Apple Music to appease China ahead of the 30th anniversary of the "Tiananmen Square Massacre".
Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja's sister joins Congress
Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja's sister Naina Jadeja on Sunday joined the Congress party in presence of the local leaders ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.This comes almost a month after Jadeja's wife Rivaba Jadeja joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.Rivaba had joined the BJP in the presence of Gujarat cabinet minister R C Faldu, MP Poonamben, and MLA Bakubai Jadeja ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.Earlier Rivaba and her husband Jadeja had met Prime Minister Modi at his official residence in New Delhi.Polling for 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will be held in a single phase on April 23. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Opposition leaders questions reliability of EVMs, demand 50 per cent VVPAT count
Opposition leaders including TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, Congress' Abhishek Manu Singhvi and AAP's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, on Sunday questioned the reliability of the electronic voting machines (EVMS) and demanded a mandatory paper trail count in at least 50 per cent of the Assembly constituencies in all Lok Sabha seats.At a joint press conference, Singhvi said,"We will campaign in the whole country and outline that repeatedly questions are being raised on elections and the Election Commission is not paying due attention to it. We have heard many issues in these elections such as EVM button giving vote to a different candidate and lakhs of voters being deleted online. Fifteen state parties and six national parties are supporting this campaign. We believe that counting of five VVPATs per Assembly constituency is not good enough. We want that check of 50 per cent of VVPATs must be made mandatory in all constituencies.""There were arguments raised about logistics and it was
Priyanka holds roadshow for Sushmita Dev in Silchar
Congress general secretary and the party's star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi on Sunday held a roadshow in Silchar for MP Sushmita Dev, who has been fielded from the Silchar parliamentary constituency.Speaking at the rally, Priyanka Gandhi said, "I came here for Sushmita. She has the kind of determination that Indira Gandhi had and she wants to work for you wholeheartedly. Sushmita is always there to speak up for you."Gandhi added, "No one is more sensible than the public, and you have the power to choose. You are the only ones who can decide who is a good leader and who is not."Hitting out at the BJP-led central government, Gandhi said, "The strategies and intentions of the government that has been ruling for the last five years are erroneous. After coming to power BJP has removed the special status which Congress had given to the Northeast.""In Silchar a trade hub was going to be set up under UPA government's Look East policy but BJP dropped that too, which means its strategies and ...
It's strength of Babasaheb's Constitution that chaiwala is PM: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday hailed the contribution of Bhimrao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, saying it is the strength of the Constitution given by him that people from humble backgrounds are holding post of president, vice-president and PM. Modi also attacked the opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh and said those who are not fighting all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state, are dreaming to become prime minister "It is the strength of Babasaheb's Constitution that a gentleman hailing from deprived and exploited class has become the president (Ram Nath Kovind), while the vice-president ( M Venkaiah Naidu) is from a farmer's family," he said at a rally here on the 128th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution. "Thanks to Babasaheb's Constitution, a 'chaiwala' (teaseller) is holding the prime minister's post," Modi said. In an apparent jibe at the SP-BSP-RLD alliance in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said, "(Parties of) those who are not fighting on 40 Lok ...
Mayawati accuses Cong, BJP of corruption in Bofors, Rafale
Invoking Bofors and Rafale deals, BSP chief Mayawati Sunday accused the BJP and the Congress of "corruption" in defence deals, and of misusing the CBI and ED to "drag" Opposition parties into false cases. She also questionned the Congress over non-implementation of its proposed' NYAY' or minimum income guarantee scheme in the party-ruled states including Chhattisgarh. "The Modi government has exploited farmers, dalits, tribals and minorities, and has been biased against them. The government has a casteist and communal thinking," the Bahujan Samaj Party chief said while addressing a public meeting in Janjgir-Champa district. Targetting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mayawati said people have now understood his "jumlebazi" (false promises). "The 'chowkidar' cannot mislead people anymore now," she said, adding that BJP leaders only give hollow promises. Apparently referring to the BJP's bid to build the poll campaign around national security, the Dalit leader said, "They ...