Page 923 - Politics
Dalits were stopped from voting by police during first phase of polling in UP, BSP writes to EC
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Friday complained to the Election Commission of India (ECI) alleging malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs).The party also alleged that voters from the Dalit community were stopped from voting by the police.In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora, BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra said: "During the first phase of voting, malfunctioning of EVMs were reported from several booths.""Buttons were pressed in front of the elephant (BSP symbol) but votes were being cast in favour of the BJP.""Similarly, at several places police forcibly stopped people, especially from the Dalit community from reaching the polling stations," Mishra said.The BSP general secretary alleged that administration and police officials were immediately informed about the same but no action was taken."There is a general discussion going on in Uttar Pradesh that the police and district administration have been told to deploy heavy police force in ...
Amit Shah should apologise for his NRC remark: Mehbooba Mufti
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday demanded an apology from BJP president Amit Shah for his statement that his party would implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC)."Such language is used by Amit Shah and his men for votes in this election. It is not right. India is a secular country," she said, while talking to media persons."J-K had decided to join India keeping in mind its secular culture. I think Amit Shah should apologise to the people of this country because the foundation of this country has been laid on secularism. The country is also for everyone," she said"Such statements are intended to shake the country's foundations. These are an attack on the secular culture of the country," she said.At an election rally, BJP president Shah said: "We will ensure the implementation of NRC in the country and will remove every single infiltrator from the country, except Buddhist, Hindus, and Sikhs."The NRC is a register containing names of Indian citizens, which was prepared for the
115 candidates in Rajasthan's 1st phase LS polls
A total of 115 candidates in Rajasthan will contest the first phase of the states two-phase Lok Sabha elections in 13 seats to be held on April 29, a poll official said on Friday.
We will withdraw support to Goa's BJP govt: MGP chief
The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) Friday said it would soon withdraw support to the BJP government in Goa. The MGP has expressed support to the Congress for Lok Sabha elections and Mapusa bypoll, both of which will be held on April 23. The MGP and Congress have fielded their candidates for the Shiroda bypoll as well. "We have decided to withdraw support to the Pramod Sawant government. We will soon be writing to Governor Mridula Sinha," MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar said. Dhavalikar said that the party has decided to support Congress in both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa. Recently, two MGP MLAs Manohar Ajgaonkar and Deepak Pawaskar had left the party to join BJP, reducing the former's strength to one in the 40-member House. The state government currently enjoys the support of 14 BJP MLAs, three from the Goa Forward Party and three Independents. After the MGP withdraws support, the opposition benches will have 14 Congress MLAs and one each from MGP and NCP.
KCR bats for new Acts to overhaul governance in Telangana
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday instructed government officials to prepare a new Revenue Act, a new Municipal Act, and urban policy to ensure corruption-free services to the people.Blaming irresponsible political parties for de-generating the government system, Rao said: "People should get their work done in government offices without paying even a single rupee as a bribe. For this, effective and strong Acts are to be formulated.""The District administration will implement all government schemes, provide services, and initiate steps against those who indulge in corruption and negligence of duty." "The District Collector will be assisted by a team of Additional District Collectors," he said.Contemplating Telangana State Administrative Services in line with the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Rao said: "Telangana's urban population is increasing. Telangana Urban Policy should be drafted in such a way that it addresses the needs of the people in urban areas.
Delhi HC seeks reply from Centre, COAS over plea seeking de-classfying Sambha spy scandal documents
New Delhi (India) Apr 12 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Centre and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) over a petition seeking to de-classify all official documents relating to Samba spy scandal.A single judge bench of the High Court headed by Justice Vibhu Bakhru issued notice to the Ministry of Defence (Centre) and the COAS while observing that the petition raises an important question as for what durations can document be kept classified since indefinite classification would be violative of freedom of speech, which includes Right to Information.During the course of hearing, the counsel for the petitioners advocate Pranav Sachdeva argued: "In all the major democracies around the world including United State of America and several European countries, all the classified documents have a fixed duration of classification and are mandatorily required to be declassified after a passage of a specified time or a specified event."The Central government's counsel ...
Delhi Police Commissioner reviews security measures ahead of Lok Sabha polls
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in the national capital, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik on Friday chaired a meeting of senior-most officers of the force to discuss measures to prevent crime and any terror acts during the polls.Patnaik also focused on the need for alertness so far as anti-terrorist measures are concerned."There should be impartial and professional conduct of all ranks of police personnel," he said.To tackle the movement of illicit liquor, cash, and narcotics during the election, a check on border pickets would be observed.The Commissioner also said that special focus should be laid on the security of rallies of all political parties.He also interacted with the beat constables and division staff during the meeting and motivated them for their exemplary performance.All seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will go to polls in a single phase on May 12. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Cong pins hope on Priyanka for Phulpur, Prayagraj seats
The historic seat of Phulpur once served as a gateway for the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the Indian parliament. So is Prayagraj, which also sent Nehru to the Parliament.A stronghold of the Congress party for the first two decades after getting Independence, the constituency has since then mostly shuffled between the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.Prayagraj, another parliamentary constituency, shares a similar narrative. Once recognised as the fortresses of the Congress party, the two seats held the privilege of being represented by the likes of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Jawaharlal Nehru, and VP Singh."Phulpur seat was the first VVIP seat of the country owing to the fact that the first Prime Minister of the country fought from here in first three general elections," says Abhay Awasthi, former chief of Prayagraj Congress unit."The seat holds relevance also because of the fact that the concept of opposition emerged from here. Jawaharlal Nehru .
Punjab CM demands 'unequivocal apology' from Britain for Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Rejecting the regret expressed by British Prime Minister Theresa May as inadequate, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday demanded an unequivocal official apology from Britain for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, whose centenary is being observed on Saturday.This comes after British PM May on Wednesday described the Jallianwala Bagh massacre as a "shameful scar" on British Indian history."The tragedy of Jallianwala Bagh of 1919 is a shameful scar on British Indian history. As Her Majesty the Queen (Elizabeth II) said before visiting Jallianwala Bagh in 1997, it is a distressing example of our past history with India," she said in her statement."We deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused. I am pleased that today the UK-India relationship is one of collaboration, partnership, prosperity, and security. Indian diaspora make an enormous contribution to British society and I am sure the whole House wishes to see the UK's relationship with India continue to ...
Arunachal registers 71 pc polling
An estimated 71.08 per cent of 7.94 lakh voters of Arunachal Pradesh exercised their franchise during the Lok Sabha and assembly polls held simultaneously in the state on Thursday, the election department said here. This figure is till 5 pm on Thursday. Reports from all parts of the state with many inaccessible terrains are yet to reach the chief electoral officer's (CEO) office, Additional CEO Kanki Darang said Friday. Polling personnel from 34 assembly seats have returned to their to EVM receiving centres, while those from the remaining 36 constituencies are expected to return Saturday. When the data from those areas are received, the poll percentage may go up, Darang said. On election related violence, Election special nodal officer, IGP Sunil Garg, said 13 complaints were received and investigations were on.
Add 'Mujahid' prefix to name to dispel misconception, defeat communal forces: Srinagar Dy Mayor
Srinagar's Deputy Mayor Sheikh Mohammad Imran Friday asked Kashmiri youths to add the prefix 'mujahid' to their names to send a strong message that the term is in no way related to terrorism and also to defeat those fighting elections stoking "communal hatred". "The word 'mujahid' means one who is engaged in jihad (holy war) and a protector who strikes against evil and advocates truthfulness. Every Muslim should be a 'mujahid' and there is no harm in using this prefix. Jihad is a spiritual fight against the enemy. Our religion is being misinterpreted by some sections of media," he said in a statement here. According to him, the term 'mujahid' has been always used in a negative way by the media. "I will use the prefix 'mujahid' at every place where my name will be used. We are not terrorists. 'Mujahid' is in no way related to any kind of terrorism." Referring to BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prefixing their social media handles with the word 'chowkidar', Imran ...
Modi slams Cong, says oppn leaders are being quoted in Pak to
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress and other parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said the Opposition leaders are heroes in Pakistan and are being quoted there to "discredit" India. In an apparent reference to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting from neighbouring Wayanad besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi, Modi asked the people of Kerala to be cautious of those who come to the State to "save themselves." He also said the Communists and the Congress have taken the people of the state for granted. "Beware of those people who come to Kerala not to serve you, but to save themselves. Those who are on bail for tax fraud are coming to Kerala for their own political bail out. When such leaders or their party members come to you for vote, ask them about their performances in their constituencies. They won't have anything to say," Modi said. He lashed out at the Congress and its "non-serious attitude" towards national security and said "they ...
UK's anti-EU Brexit Party launches EU election campaign
Pro-Brexit British politician Nigel Farage on Friday launched a campaign for an election that may never take place to an institution he routinely insults the contest for U.K. seats in the European Parliament. Britain was supposed to have left the European Union before the European elections, which take place in late May in every EU nation. But with Britain's Parliament still deadlocked over whether to approve the government's divorce deal with the bloc, EU leaders have postponed the Brexit deadline until October 31. British Prime Minister Theresa May says taking part in this year's European elections three years after the nation voted to leave the EU would be "unthinkable." She still hopes Britain can avoid the U.K.'s May 23 election by leaving the 28-nation bloc before then. But with British lawmakers unwilling to endorse the divorce agreement that May forged with the EU, preparations have begun to fill the 73 U.K. spots in the 751-seat European legislature. Winning candidates from .
Cong likely to announce its 7 Delhi candidates on Saturday
The Congress is likely to announce the names of its candidates for all seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital on Saturday and its Delhi unit president and former chief minister Sheila Dikshit may be fielded from East Delhi, sources said Friday. The central election committee (CEC) of the Congress finalised the names of its candidates for four seats Thursday. "The list of all the seven candidates is expected to be released on Saturday," All India Congress Committee(AICC) in-charge of Delhi unit P C Chacko told PTI. Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's name is under "serious consideration" as the candidate from East Delhi, said a senior party leader, adding she may be fielded if her son Sandip Dikshit declines to contest. The party has also short-listed the names of former Delhi minister Yogandnand Shastri and Olympic medal winner Sushil Kumar for the South Delhi parliamentary seat. "In view of significance of Purvanchali voters in the national capital, the party can ...
BJP protests inside Bengal CEO chamber (2nd Lead)
Intensifying their protest against alleged "rigging" of the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha seat by the ruling Trinamool Congress, BJP leaders on Friday held a sit-in inside the chamber of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), demanding deployment of Central forces in all booths for the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha polls.
Armed forces always had free hand to hit back, says Hooda
The current government has shown great resolve in allowing the Army to carry out cross-border strikes but the hands of the armed forces were not tied before that either, Lieutenant General (retired) D S Hooda said Friday. He was speaking at Goa Fest, an annual event here organised by advertising associations. "The current government, in giving permissions for cross border operations like surgical strikes and Balakot air strike, has certainly shown great political resolve. But your army's hands were not tied before that also," Hooda said. "There has been too much talk about free hand given (to the military), but the Army is free on the border since 1947. It has fought three-four wars," he said. "The line of control is a brutal place because, as I said, your are being fired upon, and soldiers on the ground will respond immediately. They (soldiers) won't even ask me. There is no question of taking any permission. There is free hand given to the Army and it has been there all along, there
Will fight alone in Delhi but willing to tie-up with AAP only in the national capital: Cong
The Congress on Friday announced that it will fight the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi alone but maintained that it is still willing to form an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party, provided the tie-up is restricted only to the national capital. Congress' in-charge for Delhi P C Chacko said the party will go it alone in Delhi since the AAP has taken an "impractical stand" by demanding seats in Punjab, Haryana, Goa and Chandigarh. He, however, said,"We are still ready (for alliance) if AAP is willing to have an alliance in Delhi alone. We want to fight the BJP together." "We are compelled to go on our own as AAP is going back on its stand," Chacko told reporters here. "We are not able to form an alliance as they have taken a difficult and impractical proposition. Congress is going to fight the election in Delhi on its own," he said, adding that the party will come out with a candidate list in a day or two. He said the Congress has adopted a policy to form alliances with parties to defeat the ...
Gov to probe land acquired by former Minister's son in PM's quarter
The Nepal government has ordered probe into alleged transfer of ownership of a piece of land, situated inside the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar, to various individuals, including the son of the ruling Nepal Communist Party General Secretary Bishnu Poudel, government spokesperson and Communication Minister Gokul Prasad Banskota said on Friday. "It has come to light that one of the owners of a plot of land in the Baluwatar area is ruling NCP leader is son of Paudel, Nabin. The former finance minister's son had bought about 2,740 sq ft (eight aanas) of land in Lalita Niwas, the PM quarters at Baluwatar," Banskota told reporters. He also said that Poudel was not involved in the "shady" deal and innocent. "He was cheated by some land mafia," the Minister said. Baskota said "anyone found guilty, whether they are from the ruling or opposition parties, will be punished as per the law". The Nepal's Central Investigation Bureau and the Commission for the Investigation of ...
NEET need not be scrapped, says Piyush Goyal
Union Minister for Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal on Friday dismissed the need to scrap the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical college admissions as it would enable the private colleges to demand a huge capitation fee.
Cong complains to EC over 'politicisation' of armed forces, Maneka's remarks on Muslims
The Congress on Friday moved the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly "dragging" the armed forces in the political domain and over Union minister Maneka Gandhi's remarks on Muslims. The Congress also made representations to the poll panel against a web series on Modi, Union minister Smriti Irani's "contradictory affidavits" on her educational qualifications, alleged "hate speeches" by BJP leaders, malfunction of EVMs, and complaint against government official for violation of election guidelines in Bihar's Munger. A Congress delegation comprising Ahmed Patel, K C Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Randeep Surjewala and Shaktisinh Gohil, made the representations to the EC and demanded immediate action. The Congress raised the issue of the remarks made by Maneka Gandhi with EC, Surjewala told reporters. The party demanded that an FIR be registered against Maneka Gandhi and cancel her nomination, Surjewala said. Addressing an election rally