Page 915 - Politics
HP Guv accepts Anil Sharma's resignation as Power Minister
Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat has accepted the resignation of Anil Sharma as Power Minister, a Raj Bhawan spokesperson said Saturday. The governor accepted Anil Sharma's resignation on the recommendation of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, he added. The chief minister will take care of Anil Sharma's portfolio of Multi Purpose Projects and Power, Non Conventional Energy Sources, the spokesperson said. Anil Sharma resigned from the BJP government on Friday, days after the Congress fielded his son Aashray Sharma as its candidate from the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency. He said that he would not campaign against his son and in support of BJP candidate Ram Swaroop Sharma in Mandi. Anil Sharma has been under pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party after his father, former Union minister Sukh Ram, quit the saffron party and joined the Congress along with Aashray Sharma last month. After resignation from the state BJP cabinet, Anil Sharma told PTI, "I will not resign as an MLA and ...
DMK fields two former Ministers for May 19 TN bypolls
The DMK on Saturday named candidates for the May 19 bypolls to four Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and fielded former Ministers Pongalur N Palanisamy and V Senthil Balaji from Sulur and Aravakkurichi. The party named P Saravanan and M C Shanmugaiah from Tirupparankundram and Ottappidaram (Reserved) constituencies respectively. Palanisamy was Rural Industries Minister in the DMK government from 2006-11 and Balaji was Transport Minister between 2011-15 in the AIADMK government. Balaji had quit the TTV Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and joined the DMK on December 14 2018. Balaji, who was elected from Aravakkurichi in 2016, was among the 18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs for siding with Dhinakaran. Saravanan, a Madurai based oncologist, had preferred an eleciton petition before the Madras High Court against A K Bose, who was elected in 2016. Belonging to the AIADMK, Bose died last year and he had represented Tirupparankundram seat in Madurai district. The ...
Cong using its state govts like ATMs to pump money into election campaign: BJP
The BJP Saturday accused the Congress of using its state governments like ATMs to pump "illicit money" into its general election campaign and claimed that if the opposition party comes to power, it will practice corruption. BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi cited documents to hurl "Tughlaq Road poll scam", a term often used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to target the Congress in his speeches, barb at the rival party. It is shocking to know that the Congress was using its state governments for collecting money to fight elections, she alleged at a press conference and claimed that Congress-run state governments have become "election ATMs" for the party. She also named several people who were raided by probe agencies recently to claim they were involved in channelling "illicit" money to the Congress. There was no immediate reaction from the Congress, which has repeatedly accused the Modi government of using investigation agencies to target its political rivals. Income tax raids were ...
Rs 169 cr unaccounted cash seized in TN so far
A total of Rs 169.61 crore unaccounted cash has been seized by Election Commission officials and Income Tax (IT) department in Tamil Nadu till date, a senior poll panel official said on Saturday.
EC has lost credibility: Chandrababu Naidu (2nd Lead)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said the Election Commission (EC) has lost its credibility as "it functions on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his office".
On centenary, India pays homage to Jallianwala Bagh massacre victims
India Saturday remembered Jallianwala Bagh massacre victims with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi paying tribute to those killed in the Amritsar tragedy 100 years ago. The massacre took place at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar during the Baisakhi festival on April 13, 1919, when troops of the British Indian Army under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer opened fire at a crowd of people holding a pro-independence demonstration, leaving several dead and scores injured. Naidu on Saturday paid his respect by placing a wreath on the memorial and listened hymns being sung by Sikh priests at Jallianwala Bagh. He also released a commemorative coin and a postage stamp to mark the centenary. The vice-president later tweeted that Jallianwala Bagh massacre was a reminder to each one of us as to how hard-won and precious our freedom is. "History is not a mere chronicle of events. It shows us the depths to which depraved minds can plunge ...
Oppn treats illegal immigrants as vote bank: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Saturday accused the Opposition of treating illegal immigrants as a vote bank and doing 'Ilu Ilu' with terrorists, an apparent reference to a popular Bollywood love song from the nineties. He made the remarks while addressing 'Vijay Sankalp' (victory pledge) rallies in Badaun and Shahjahanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh. "The BJP wants to take the intruders out (of the country) but the BSP-SP and the Congress do not want this as they consider them their vote bank," Shah said. He also accused the Congress of being soft on terrorists. "Rahul baba's guru Sam Pitorda said do not bomb (Pakistan) but negotiate... Rahul baba if your party wants to do 'Ilu Ilu' with terrorists you can do that. But our intention is clear, if a shot is fired, we will reply with a bomb," the BJP president said. In the song, 'Ilu Ilu' is an acronym for I love you. Shah alleged that during the Congress's 10-year tenure, no action was taken even when terrorists took away heads of Indian ...
BJP asks opposition leaders to mind their language
BJP on Saturday asked the leaders from opposition parties to be mindful of their language while making statements on the armed forces."You have seen today that (National Conference leader) Farooq Abdullah who is part of the adulterous alliance is making anti-India remarks every day. Rahul Gandhi and Congress should reply whether they agree with Farooq or not," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said while addressing a press conference here in the capital."If they don't agree, then they should condemn it and disassociate themselves from the remarks made by Farooq Abdullah," Hussain added."BJP strongly condemns remarks made by Farooq Abdullah. Please mind your language when you are talking about the brave jawans," he said while asserting that politicisation of the jawans killing causes hurt to the 130 crore people in the country.Hussain's comments come in the wake of National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah claim on Saturday that the incumbent ruling government is merely "beating
PM Modi opposing NYAY shows his anti-poor mindset: Congress
In a scathing attack, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments on the grand old party's Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) scheme, saying it reflected the latter's "anti-poor mindset"."The Prime Minister is opposing NYAY scheme because he is anti-poor. Why the Prime Minister, who promised Rs 15 lakh and delivered none, is opposing the scheme which gives Rs 72,000 per year to the poorest families of India? This shows his anti-poor mindset," Surjewala told ANI.Playing on the word NYAY, the Congress' ambitious poll promise for the poor, Modi earlier today said that who will give 'nyay' (justice) to the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the Bhopal gas tragedy that happened under the Congress regime.In the Congress manifesto, the NYAY scheme has promised that it will give Rs 72,000 per year to 20 per cent of India's poorest, if the party emerges victorious in the Lok Sabha elections."I want to ask the Congress party that who ...
Tax concession by France to Anil Ambani firm is 'Modi kripa', says Cong in fresh salvo over Rafale
Firing a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale issue, the Congress on Saturday alleged that the 143.7 million euro French tax waiver to Anil Ambani's telecom company in 2015, after India announced the fighter jet deal, was due to PM Modi's "blessings" as he acted as a "middleman" for the businessman. "This is called zero sum choices, startling tax concession and Modi 'kripa' (blessings)," Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters here while referring to a French newspaper report that France waived taxes of the Reliance Communications' subsidiary. The Defence Ministry termed as mischievous and inaccurate the attempts to draw a connection between the tax issue and the Rafale deal and said they are aimed at disinforming public. Reliance Communications also rejected allegations of wrongdoing and said the tax dispute was settled under legal framework which is available for all companies operating in France. Surjewala alleged that the "murky layers of
Fashion to say bad things about my father: Parrikar's son
Former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Saturday said it has been a "fashion" to say bad things about the former and "talk in the air" about ideologies. Utpal was reacting to a statement by Goa Suraksha Manch mentor Subhash Velingkar that the former was a "gentleman" but not "political material". "I was not interested in commenting on this (Velingkar's statement). It has become a fashion to say bad things to him (Parrikar) and talk in the air about ideologies," Utpal said. "What kind of material I am, I don't think anyone has the right to decide what material I am, only my work will decide," he said. Velingkar, a former Goa RSS chief, used to be a strident critic of Parrikar, who died on March 17 this year. "I am not interested in commenting on what they have been saying. I studied here and went to the USA. I came back and started my own business. I have seen my father working for 30 years. With the kind of experience I got through my father, I hope I ...
AIADMK's Ramanathapuram strongman J K Ritheesh dead
AIADMK leader and Tamil film actor J K Ritheesh died Saturday due to a sudden cardiac arrest while he was engaged in election related work, the party said. The 46-year old former Lok Sabha MP from Ramanathapuram died after he suffered a heart attack while attending to poll related work in Ramanathapuram district and despite being rushed to a hospital, the AIADMK said. Ritheesh, alias Shivakumkar, the AIADMK's MGR youth wing deputy secretary, joined the party in the presence of late J Jayalalithaa in 2014. A former loyalist of expelled DMK leader M K Alagiri, the politician had also acted in some Telugu and Tamil films, including "Nayagan." He was last seen in the recently released R J Balaji starrer "LKG". Ritheesh was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha (2009) from Ramanathapuram constituency and was among the noted leaders of the AIADMK in the southern district of Ramanathapuram. Party top leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami in a release here said they were deeply ...
Cong siding with 'tukde tukde' gang: BJP
The BJP on Saturday fired a fresh salvo at the Congress over its promise of removing the sedition law mentioned in its manifesto, accusing the grand old party of siding with the "tukde tukde gang" referring to the Opposition's unity which is seeking to dethrone the BJP government from power."The Congress is with the tukde tukde gang. They are making their point of view absolutely clear. Anybody who wants to break India into different pieces and celebrate that, should there be a sedition law or not? They are on the side with the tukde tukde gang," New Delhi BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi told reporters here."Anything which harms the integrity of this country, we will take strong steps," she added.The Congress released its manifesto on April 2, in which it promised to remove the sedition law to give a "fillip to freedom of expression" in the country if the party was voted to power.The provision for sedition under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code says, "Whoever, by words, either spoken or ..
Mayawati remembers Dr Ambedkar only during polls, says Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday took a swipe at BSP supremo Mayawati, stating she remembers Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar only during elections."When it is time for elections, Behenji remembers Ambedkar ji. But when she comes to power, she forgets Ambedkar ji and builds her own statues," Shah said while addressing an election rally here."It is the BJP government that has built Ambedkar ji's memorial in five years. We have done a lot of works for Dalits in the last five years," added the BJP president.Reiterating his party's tough stance on infiltrators, Shah said: "Infiltrators are dangerous for the security of our country. They are eating our country like termites. We will not tolerate this. We will ensure that every single infiltrator is thrown out from this country by our party."Hitting out at Congress, BSP and SP, Shah claimed that these parties could not keep the country safe, and contended that only the BJP could keep the nation safe from its enemies.Accusing the Congress of ..
PM Modi covers 22,000 km election travel during Navratras
With temperature soaring- both literally and figuratively with the daily war of words between politicians, leaders had a difficult time to maintain the usual schedule during Navratra fasts.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a non-stop schedule at all times, even as he crisscrossed the country, holding Lok Sabha election rallies during the nine-day festival.The prime minister, while fasting, travelled 22,000 kilometers across 13 states, holding 23 rallies during Navratras according to sources in charge of planning PM Modi's election rallies.Sources in the PMO say, his official work never stopped and he would return to Delhi after a full day's campaign of three to four rallies to look into the matter that demand immediate attention.Prime Minister Modi, amidst hectic political activities at home, congratulated the leadership in the Maldives and President Benjamin Netanyahu on the successful electoral result in Israel. He also thanked President Vladimir Putin and the people of Russia, for ..
UPSC choice for jt secy from pvt. sector faces questions
The first major lateral entry into the government for top jobs has caused unease as questions are being raised about the choice of some of the candidates by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Chowkidar is "100 per cent chor", alleges Rahul Gandhi
Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi Saturday alleged the "chowkidar" was a "100 per cent chor" and the Lok Sabha polls was a fight between Anil Ambani and ordinary people and thieves and honest people. Stepping up the campaign for the ruling Congress-JDS alliance on a day when the prime minister was also on a blitzkrieg in Karnataka, Gandhi said he wanted to know "why all the thieves have surnames of Modi." The Congress president said he would not like to be the Chowkidar (watchman), but the voice of the people. Continuing his vituperative attack on the Modi government over the Rafale fighter jet deal at a rally in Kolar, he said, "100 per cent. Chowkidar is a chor (thief)" and alleged that the prime minister stole Rs 30,000 crore and gifted it to his "thief friend" Anil Ambani. "You stole Rs 30,000 crore and gifted to your thief friend. You 100 per cent steal money. 'Chowkidar' is a thief. Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksy, Lalit Modi, ...
Parrikar quit as defence minister over Rafale deal: Pawar
Former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar relinquished his post at the Centre and returned to Goa because he did not agree with the Rafale fighter jet deal, NCP chief Sharad Pawar claimed Saturday. Addressing reporters in Kolhapur, the Maratha strongman also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that he had failed to fulfil the promises made during the 2014 poll campaign and was, therefore, diverting people's attention. "The Rafale deal was not acceptable to Manohar Parrikar. He therefore resigned from the post of Defence minister and returned to Goa," claimed Pawar. Parrikar, who took over as defence minister in November 2014, was sworn in as Goa chief minister on March 14, 2017. He died on March 17 this year after a long battle with a pancreatic ailment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the procurement of a batch of 36 Rafale jets after talks with the then French President Francois Hollande on April 10, 2015, in Paris. The final deal was sealed on September 23, ...
Cong govt in MP running transfer industry, claims BJP
The Congress-led Madhya Pradesh government is a running a "transfer industry" to mint money, in the process bringing development to a standstill, former chief minister and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed Saturday. The BJP, which was defeated in the November, 2018 state Assembly polls after a 15-year stint in power, Saturday organised protests in several districts of the state to mark what it claimed was over 100 days of corruption by the Kamal Nath government. The Congress government headed by Chief Minister Kamal Nath was sworn in on December 17 last year. "Youth are being cheated. Nobody is getting employment. Development has come to a standstill. Only one industry is flourishing in MP (after the Congress took over) and that is the transfer industry," Chouhan said at one such party protest here. "In the morning, a person is transferred from Bhopal to Sehore. In the evening, he is transferred from Sehore to Asta. In the evening, he is shifted from Asta .
BJP, Congress spar over Sabarimala with eye on vote
A war of words has broken out between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in Kerala over the Sabarimala temple, following the 28 September 2018 Supreme Court verdict.