Page 917 - Politics
Rahul promises jobs for youth, income for poor
Campaigning for the party candidates in fray in the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday promised to create jobs for lakhs of youth, income for the poor and loan waiver for farmers, if elected to power.
Will not allow revival of terrorism in Jammu region: Army
A top Army officer Saturday said it would not allow revival of terrorism in Jammu region including the mountainous Kishtwar district which witnessed killing of four persons including two senior leaders of BJP and RSS since November last year. The General Officer Commanding (GOC), White Knight Corps, Lt Gen Paramjit Singh also said the leadership of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit was eliminated in Kashmir valley post India's preemptive air strike on a JeM terror camp in Balakot on February 26 in response to the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. "The incidents which had happened in Kishtwar in the recent past are a matter of concern. The enemy always try to revive terrorism in the areas where it was wiped out but we are ready for the challenge and I want to assure the people if the intention is to revive terrorism, we will not allow it to happen," the officer said interacting with media persons in Rajouri district. The communally ...
Vice President pays homage at Jallianwala Bagh
On the 100th anniversary of the massacre of hundreds of innocent Indians by the British forces at the Jallianwala Bagh, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu offered tributes to the fallen, here on Saturday.
Cong doing 'Ilu Ilu' with terrorists: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Saturday accused the Congress of doing 'Ilu Ilu' with terrorists, in an apparent reference to a popular Bollywood love song from the nineties. In the song, 'Ilu Ilu' is an acronym for I love you. "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," Shah said here, addressing an election meeting in support of BJP's Badaun candidate Sanghmitra Maurya. Shah claimed that during the Congress's 10-year tenure, no action was taken even when terrorists took away heads of Indian soldiers. "This time it was the Narendra Modi government and not 'mauni baba' Manmohan Singh... within 13 days of the attack, the Indian Air Force went into Pakistan, bombed the terror camps and returned," the BJP president said, referring to the Pulwama attack. He added that BJP workers in Kashmir will ensure that it ..
Tax concession by France to Anil Ambani' firm is 'Modi kripa', says Cong in fresh salvo over Rafale
Firing a fresh salvo against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Rafale issue, the Congress today alleged that the reported tax waiver by France to a telecom subsidiary of Anil Ambani's company in 2015 months after India announced the fighter jet deal was due to "blessings" of Modi who had 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 worth 143.7 million euros of the Reliance Communications' subsidiary. He claimed the "layers of crony capitalism" involving Modi and Ambani are now being unveiled. "PM Modi is acting as middleman for Anil Ambani. How many other companies in France have got a tax benefit? Is this not a quid pro quo for the purchase of aircraft? It is clear only one watchman is the thief," Surjewala said. "Those that have Modi's blessings can get ...
PUCL presents 'charge sheet' against BJP govt
Civil rights group People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and other organisations Saturday presented what they called was a "charge sheet" against the BJP-led government at the Centre and urged political parties to develop a common minimum programme. Social activist Aruna Roy alleged that efforts are being made to divert attention from the real issues, including of Dalits, tribals, minorities and women. She said the achievements of the Indian Army is being "politicised for political gains". She claimed the unemployment rate under the BJP government is the highest in over four decades, at least 75 people had died of hunger across the country, and development projects displaced over two lakh people.
Farooq Abdullah compares PM Modi to Hitler
National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah on Saturday compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Adolf Hitler and alleged that the BJP's "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" is in the same lines as the German dictator's aspirations were.
Sudan intelligence chief resigns: military council
The head of Sudan's feared National Intelligence and Security Service, Salih Ghosh, has resigned from his post, the country's new military rulers said on Saturday. "The chief of the transitional military council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has accepted the resignation of... the chief of NISS," the transitional military council said. Ghosh had overseen a sweeping crackdown led by NISS agents against protesters taking part in four months of mass demonstations that led up to the toppling of veteran president Omar al-Bashir in a palace coup by the army on Thursday. Thousands of protesters, opposition activists and journalists were arrested.
NCP says Modi fears its inclusive nationalism
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Saturday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he was afraid of the nationalism of the Sharad Pawar-led party which was inclusive. Modi, at a poll rally at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra, had accused Pawar of keeping mum on issues of national security despite quitting the Congress in the name of country. "Your party's name is 'Rashtravadi' and still you see the country through a foreign lens," Modi had said. Countering the prime minister's barbs, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, "Yours is a cultural nationalism of (former RSS chiefs) Hedgewar, Golwalkar in which only the people belonging to a specific class of society have a place. "Our nationalism propagates ideals of (reformers) Chhatrapati Shahu, Mahatma Phule, (B R) Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Azad," he said, claiming that NCP's nationalism was all-inclusive. "We believe in social equality. This nationalism has strengthened the people of India. We will defeat your .
BVA's last-ditch effort of getting 'whistle' symbol dashed
The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA), which had lost its election symbol of 'whistle' to a newly-formed outfit, made a last-ditch effort to get it back on Friday, but could not succeed in its endeavour. The BVA, led by Vasai MLA Hitendra Thakur, has fielded former MP Baliram Jadhav from Palghar Lok Sabha constituency against sitting MP Rajendra Gavit, who is contesting as a Shiv Sena candidate. The Election Commission had earlier allotted the whistle symbol to newly-formed Bahujan Maha Party (BMP), which has fielded a number of candidates in the state and elsewhere in the country. However, BMP candidate Ketan Patil withdrew his nomination for the Palghar seat on Friday afternoon. After his withdrawal, the BVA sensed an opportunity of getting back its whistle symbol, on which it had earlier contested elections. However, returning officer Prashant Narnavre, told the BVA leaders around midnight that the whistle symbol could be allotted to any other party now. Disappointed by the .
Rahul has 'spare time' but still did not do anything in Amethi: Smriti Irani
Continuing her tirade against the Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday said that he has all the "spare time" in the world yet did not do anything for the people of Amethi in the last five years."Even though Rahul Gandhi has a stronghold in Amethi, he failed to establish his grip over the constituency. He has all the spare time in the world but did not do anything for his own people," Smriti said while addressing an election rally here.BJP leader asserted that even though she had lost the seat in the 2014 General elections, she won the hearts of the people over the time and has become their 'didi (elder sister) now."Has he ever served you as I did? Has he ever come to Amethi and asked you about your issues?" she questioned.Reiterating the promises made by BJP, she said: "If voted to power, all those living in mud house here will be given a pucca house by 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also promised to provide you with clean water by ...
Union Minister Prasad hits out at Badruddin Ajmal for 'tea-pakoda' remark against PM Modi
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday hit out at All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) leader Badruddin Ajmal for his controversial 'tea and pakoda' remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Speaking to ANI, Prasad said: "How can Ajmal talk about taking Prime Minister Modi out of India...Who is he? What is his status to say such a thing against the popularly elected Prime Minister? He is saying that the Prime Minister will sell tea and pakoda...What kind of language is this?""BJP strongly condemns the statements made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal," said Prasad, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election for the first time from Patna Sahib. He is pitted against sitting MP and former BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha.Hitting out at Congress president, the Union Minister said: "These people are influenced by Rahul Gandhi who also makes false statements and low-level remarks against Prime Minister Modi."Prasad, currently a Rajya Sabha ...
Modi corners Cong on "Nyay," seeks justice for "Anyay"
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sought to corner the Congress on its showpiece poll promise of "Nyay," demanding justice for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Bhopal gas tragedy and violence against Dalits. While terror attacks shook the nation during Congress regime, the NDA's policy halted it, he said at Ramanathapuram. A vote for DMK, Congress, and Muslim League combine would lead to higher taxes and less development and give a free hand to terrorists and rise of criminal elements in politics, he alleged. "Those who cannot protect India can never develop the nation. When Congress and their allies were in power, terrorists were attacking the nation regularly. City after city, there were blasts but congress remained helpless and silent." Time has however changed now. "India will not spare a single terrorist or Jihadi. If they dare to attack us, we will find them wherever they are and ruin their happiness," he said. Addressing a poll rally here, he ...
Good works of mine, PM Modi will help me win LS poll again, says Hema Malini
Good works of mine and that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government at the Centre will help me win this Lok Sabha election again, said actor-turned-politician Hema Malini on Saturday."I am very confident of my win because I have done good works. My government has also done good work. So I am sure people will support us," said Malini in an exclusive interview to ANI.She also expressed confidence that the next government at the Centre will again be formed by the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi."The whole system is changing. People want development. They want quick decisions to be taken for whatever is happening in the country. People belonging to different castes -- all want PM Modi," she said.In the last Lok Sabha elections in 2014, Malini, who is also popular among masses as 'Basanti' for her stellar role in blockbuster 'Sholay,' had defeated the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chaudhary by a margin of over three lakh votes.When asked if SP-BSP-RLD ...
Rebuffed AAP again talks of poll tieup with Congress
Giving another chance to a poll alliance, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday said it was open for tie-up with the Congress in 18 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh.
Won't allow revival of militancy in Kishtwar: Army
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir will not allow revival of militancy in the Kishtwar district that witnessed three militancy-related incidents in the last few months, an Army officer said on Saturday.
In Nashik, Sena MP faces Sameer Bhujbal of NCP and a poll jinx
A four-cornered fight is on cards in Nashik Lok Sabha constituency in north Maharashtra, where sitting Shiv Sena MP Hemant Godse is not only facing the challenge from NCP's Sameer Bhujbal and a former Shiv Sena MLA, but is also battling an old poll jinx. Interestingly, no sitting MP in this constituency has managed to win again since 1952, except in 1971 when Congress' Bhanudas Kavade managed to retain the seat after winning it earlier in 1967. Godse had defeated NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal by 1.87 lakh votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Apart from Sameer Bhujbal, who is nephew of Chhagan Bhujbal, Godse is facing challenge from Independent candidate and former BJP MLA Manikrao Kokate, and Pawan Pawar of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), which is led by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. The Shiv Sena and the BJP have formed a front to contest the Lok Sabha elections, so did the Congress and the NCP. A total of 18 .
BJP has tactical understanding with Pak on Kashmir issue: Moily
Claiming that the BJP has a tactical understanding with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily demanded to know the basis of Imran Khan's support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the ongoing elections. The former Union Minister also charged Modi with adopting a "Hitler-kind of attitude", stoking an "atmosphere of hatred in the country and thereby destroying all institutions". If the Congress comes to power, Moily said it will initiate probes into the functioning of the BJP government during the past five years in which the "nation was misled and kept in the dark" over several important issues like Rafale deal. "Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has openly supported Narendra Modi as a pre-condition for talks on bilateral resolution of the Kashmir dispute which clearly shows that there is a tactical understanding between the BJP and the Pakistan Prime Minister," the Congress leader told PTI. Khan's support and also the suggestion that Modi would bring in
No freedom of speech or expression during NDA rule: CPI
: Tamil Nadu CPI secretary R Mutharasan Saturday charged the Bharathiya Janata Party (BJP)-headed NDA government at the Centre with denying the people freedom of speech and expression during the last five years of its rule. He said this while campaigning for the candidates of the secular progressive alliance contesting the April 18 Lok Sabha poll and also the byelection to the Thattanchavady assembly constituency here. The forthcoming poll should not be considered a poll battle alone, rather a 'political war' between parties and their ideologies, he said. He said the Prime Minister had promised the people of the country during the run-up to the Lok Sabha poll in 2014 that farmers in distress would be helped, two crore jobs for the youth would be generated and steps to improve the lot of the weaker sections would be taken. But, Modi had not done anything and his five- year rule was a 'monumental failure', he He assured the people of Puducherry of statehood status if they
Raj Thackeray dancing at others' weddings: Fadnavis
Slamming Raj Thackeray for his criticism of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Saturday said the MNS chief was dancing at others' weddings. Addressing a poll rally at Nanded for BJP candidate Pratap Patil Chikhalikar, Fadnavis said the MNS (abbreviated as 'manse' in Marathi) has become "unse" ('ummedvaar nasleli sena' - a party devoid of candidates). "Raj Thackeray is dancing at others' weddings," he retorted. Addressing a rally at Nanded on Friday, the MNS chief had slammed Modi and Fadnavis and said while the drought situation in Maharashtra was tense and its regions were fighting for water, the latter conspired to divert the water of Godavari River to Gujarat. Thackeray had also alleged that Fadnavis was a "planted" chief minister. Responding to the allegations, Fadnavis said Thackeray does not have to fight elections and, therefore, can speak anything without furnishing proof for his claims. "Raj Thackeray says I am