Page 926 - Politics
Congress goes to EC over BJP 'dragging' forces in politics
The Congress on Friday approached the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for allegedly "dragging" the armed forces in politics repeatedly.
LDF, UDF failed people of Ker despite dominating state
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday lashed out at the ruling LDF and the Opposition Congress, saying both fronts have failed the people of the state despite dominating state politics for decades. At the Vijaya Sankalp rally in Kozhikode, Modi said his party presents an alternative for the state, that would be inclusive, democratic and compassionate. "For decades, the communist LDF and the communal UDF have dominated the Kerala politics. But they have miserably failed the people of Kerala. BJP presents an alternative ie.inclusive, democratic and compassionate. We will serve each and every citizen," Modi said. He said electing of Congress and LDF was like "giving licences for its leaders to engage in corruption." Modi, who arrived here after addressing campaign meetings at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra and Gangavathi in northern Karnataka during the day, said the UDF and the LDF are different only in name, but not in deeds. "BJP Karyakarthas have been attacked and killed in ...
Opposition's only agenda is to defeat Modi: UP deputy CM
Accusing SP, BSP and Congress of practising nepotism, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma Friday said these parties were contesting the elections only to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sharma made the comments while addressing public meetings in Fatehpur Sikri, Aonla and Mainpuri, a BJP release said. Polling will be held in Fatehpur Sikri in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 18 and it will held in Aonla and Mainpuri in the third phase on April 23. "SP, BSP and Congress are parties that practise nepotism. While Akhilesh had sidelined his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati has brought her nephew into the party," the release quoted Sharma as saying. "Contrary to this, no one in BJP knows who will be the next party president," Sharma said. "On one hand, there is Modi, whose family is not taking any benefits and on the other there are parties that are in politics to promote their families only," he added. The deputy chief minister alleged that the ...
Former IAS officer hits campaign trail for Mir, seeks votes from Kashmiri migrants in Jammu
Retired IAS officer Vinod Koul, who played an instrumental role in creation of 659 new administrative units in Jammu and Kashmir during the Omar Abdullah dispensation, Friday hit the campaign trail to seek votes from Kashmiri migrants here for Congress candidate from Anantnag Lok Sabha seat Ghulam Ahmed Mir. Son of two-time minister Manohar Nath Koul, a prominent Congress politician from south Kashmir, the 62-year-old former bureaucrat joined the party in presence of Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Mir in Srinagar on Wednesday. Vinod Koul, who was flanked by former minister and senior Congress leader Raman Mattoo and Congress minority cell chairman Hira Lal Pandita began his campaign by addressing a conferences of displaced Kashmiri migrants here. He is scheduled to visit Jagati, Purkhoo, Muthi, Nagrota, Butanagar migrant camps in Jammu during the campaigning. During his address, Vinod Koul asked the Kashmiri migrants to compare the benefits granted to the displaced community during .
India-Pak cricket game nothing less than war, claims Sehwag
A cricket match between India and Pakistan is nothing less than war, former India opener Virender Sehwag said here Friday. Speaking to reporters at an event, Sehwag brushed aside queries on whether he intended to join politics with jestful remarks. He stressed that people should vote for a leader who is decisive, though he refused to take any name. Asked if India should play Pakistan in the World Cup, he said, "There are two points which are discussed, whether we should have a war with Pakistan or not (and whether we should play Pakistan)." "That is also one point that is discussed. We should do whatever is good for the country's welfare. When India and Pakistan play a match, it is nothing less than a war. We should win the war, not lose it," he told reporters at Goa Fest, an annual event organised here by advertising associations. The World Cup will be played in England and Wales between May 30 and July 14 this year. Facing a volley of questions on ongoing Lok Sabha polls, Sehwag ...
Israel's president: Talks about PM choice to begin Monday
Israel's president says he will receive party representatives at his residence on Monday to hear their recommendations for who should be the next prime minister. President Reuven Rivlin's office announced Friday he will consult with the heads of all elected factions, in order of largest to smallest, about their choices. Rivlin, whose role is otherwise ceremonial, then picks the candidate he believes has the best chance of assembling a parliamentary majority, and ask that leader to form a government within 42 days. That candidate looks to be Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A final tally of votes late Thursday showed Netanyahu's Likud party capturing 36 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Together with nationalist and Jewish ultra-Orthodox parties, which Netanyahu calls his "natural allies," his right-wing bloc commands a 65-55 parliamentary majority.
Brexit chaos leaves Scotland on independence tightrope
With Britain tearing its hair out over the Brexit confusion, Scotland's government is biding its time as it prepares for the ultimate prize -- independence. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, a strong opponent of Brexit, has said she will set out her thinking on independence plans later this month. The issue presents voters and leaders north of the border with another source of dispute, something that this week's decision to delay Britain's departure from the European Union has done little to resolve. The government is "absolutely committed to an independent Scotland in the European Union," Scottish Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development Ben Macpherson told AFP while out campaigning in Leith, east of Edinburgh. But even independence backers are divided over Brexit -- five years on from Scotland's own referendum in which 55 percent opted to remain a part of Britain. Retiree Phil, enjoying the sunshine in a central Edinburgh park, said he wanted "complete ...
Pence defends Trump's mixed message on WikiLeaks
US Vice President Mike Pence on Friday defended what some say is his boss Donald Trump's puzzling position over the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Repeated past praise for WikiLeaks from Trump was not "an endorsement," Pence told CNN. Republicans generally celebrated the capture of Assange, who had been taking shelter at Ecuador's London embassy for nearly seven years until British police took him into custody Thursday. But Trump's first reaction was dismissive, telling reporters "I know nothing about WikiLeaks. It's not my thing." "I know nothing really about him," he said of Assange. This raised eyebrows because during his 2016 presidential campaign Trump repeatedly lauded and encouraged the hacking and information-dumping platform, which six years earlier had caused a massive scandal by publishing thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. "I love WikiLeaks," he said on one occasion, as the platform leaked stolen emails that proved damaging to his ...
Want apology from Britain, regret won't do, say kin of those killed in Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Demanding apology from Britain over the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which completes 100th year on Saturday, descendants of some of those killed have said mere regret would not do. The massacre took place in Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar over Baisakhi in April 1919 when troops of the British Indian Army under the command of General Reginald Dyer fired indiscriminately at a crowd holding a pro-independence demonstration, leaving hundreds of people dead. British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday described the massacre as a "shameful scar" on British Indian history but she stopped short of a formal apology, reiterating the "regret" already expressed by the British government. "My mama-ji (maternal uncle) Mela Ram was martyred at the age of 18 in the massacre," said 86-year-old Krishana Chohan, recounting how she grew up hearing tales about the incident. "When the troops started indiscriminate firing on the peaceful gathering, everybody panicked, people started running helter-skelter ..
Won't change stand on Kashmir issue: Mirwaiz
Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Friday that use of force will not make the separatist leadership change its stand on Jammu and Kashmir.
Patidar leaders meet BJP chief Shah, Guj CM
Ahead of the April 23 Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat, some prominent Patidar community leaders led by C K Patel held a meeting with BJP president Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, deputy CM Nitin Patel and other government functionaries on Thursday. Shah, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar seat, was in the city on Thursday to attend a social function. He left early Friday morning. C K Patel, who is associated with Vishva Umiya Dham, addressing a press conference Friday, said the meeting was aimed at drawing the government and party's attention towards some unresolved issues concerning the community. Some of the key issues discussed during the meeting were withdrawal of cases against quota agitators, jobs for the family members of those Patidars who were killed in the 2015 stir, and proper implementation of schemes meant for unreserved classes, he said. "The meeting has nothing to do with the Lok Sabha polls. Nothing political was ...
LS polls: Congress ready to go solo in Delhi
The Congress said on Friday that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was backtracking from the seat-sharing "pact" between the two parties by seeking its extension outside Delhi, and that the party would fight all the seven seats in the national capital alone if no agreement was reached.
Aren't BJP leaders ashamed of seeking votes from farmers, asks
Latching onto Maharashtra BJP chief Raosaheb Danve's remark made against farmers in the past, NCP president Sharad Pawar Friday asked how leaders of the ruling party were not ashamed of seeking votes from peasants. Pawar made the remarks as he campaigned for Vishal Patil, a Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) candidate for Sangli Lok Sabha seat, here. "The BJP has become so arrogant that its state chief Danve calls farmers 'saale' (an expletive), while its (state) spokesperson Avdhut Wagh called children of farmers who committed suicide as orphans. "And the same people are now seeking votes from farmers. How come they (BJP leaders) don't feel ashamed while asking for votes?" Pawar asked. Danve was at the centre of controversy in May 2017 after he allegedly said some farmers continued to complain despite the state government doling out sops to bail out tur growers. "The state government has so far procured the highest amount of tur in the history and it is going to ...
LS Polls: AAP enters into alliance with JJP in Haryana
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday entered into an alliance with the Jananayak Janata Party (JJP) in Haryana.As per the seat-sharing deal, JJP will contest on 7 seats while AAP will contest on 3 seats."The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Jananayak Janata Party (JJP) have entered into an alliance in Haryana for Lok Sabha elections. The JJP will contest on 7 seats while the AAP will contest on 3 seats in Haryana," AAP leader Gopal Rai said at a press conference here."JJP and AAP together will bring change in the state," said JJP leader Dushyant Chautala.He also took on the BJP and Congress saying, "We will fight against BJP and Congress, which are bringing weakness into the democracy, even in the next election.""After all the discussion, we had arrived at the conclusion that we will bring similar changes in Haryana as Arvind Kejriwal brought in Delhi in sectors like education and health. Together, we will fight on all seats of Haryana," he added.Haryana will go to polls in a single phase
BJP will win all 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Friday said his party is confident of winning all the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh, despite winning only 15 of the 90 seats in the state assembly elections last year. Addressing a poll rally in Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, Shah said the BJP had won 10 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and exuded confidence that this time the party will emerge victorious in all 11 seats. In the last three Lok Sabha polls in 2004, 2009 and 2014 after the formation of Chhattisgarh, BJP had won 10 seats in the state every time. BJP denied tickets to all its 10 sitting MPs in the state this time after suffering a massive defeat in last year's assembly polls. The party has fielded its state general secretary Santosh Pandey in Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency which will go to polls in the third phase of election in the state on April 23. Shah also described the Naxal attack in which a Chhattisgarh BJP MLA was killed as a political conspiracy and sought a CBI probe .
SC directs parties to forthwith furnish to EC details of funds received through electoral bonds
Lifting the veil of anonymity from the government's political funding scheme, the Supreme Court Friday directed parties to furnish by May 30 all the details of funds received through electoral bonds to the Election Commission in a sealed cover. The top court, which did not stay the Centre's Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018, made clear it would accord in-depth hearing on the pleas of an NGO and CPI (M) as they as also the Centre and the EC have raised "weighty issues" having "tremendous bearing on the sanctity of the electoral process in the country". "According to us, the just and proper interim direction would be to require all the political parties who have received donations through Electoral Bonds to submit to the Election Commission of India in sealed cover, detailed particulars of the donors as against each bond; the amount of each such bond and the full particulars of the credit received against each bond, namely, the particulars of the bank account to which the amount has been ...
PM rival Gantz congratulates Netanyahu after final results
Benny Gantz, head of the centrist Blue and White party who had challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, called to congratulate him Friday after Israel's final election results showed the prime minister poised to win a fifth term. Netanyahu appeared all but certain to form the next government, as the final tally showed his Likud party capturing 36 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, edging past Blue and White, which got 35 seats. "With all votes now counted and the final results in, I would like to congratulate you on your achievement in the elections," Gantz told Netanyahu. "We will continue serving the country's citizens." Nationalist and Jewish ultra-Orthodox parties, which Netanyahu calls his "natural allies," commanded a parliamentary majority of 65-55, giving the prime minister a further advantage in forming a coalition. While ballots were still being counted, the Blue and White leaders officially conceded defeat on Wednesday, and vowed to fight the prime minister from the ...
If don't vote for me, I will return sins to you, says BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj to voters
If you do not vote for in my favour, then you will get sins in return, said BJP's local MP Sakshi Maharaj to his voters here on Friday."I am a saint. It is written in Shastras that when a Sanyasi asks for something and is not provided with, then he takes away all the good deeds and gives sins in return," Maharaj said while addressing a public meeting in his Lok Sabha constituency.Maharaj, who is known for his controversial remarks, further said: "I am not demanding your property. I seek your vote which will decide the fate of 125 crore Indians."Maharaj courted controversy last month by saying that there no elections would be required after the 2019 elections owing to "Modi tsunami."The seven-phased Lok Sabha elections have begun with the first phase of polling taking place on April 11. It will conclude on May 19. Uttar Pradesh will undergo polling during all seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Modi attacks JDS-Cong coalition,dubs it 20 pc commission govt
Tearing into the Congress-JDS coalition in Karnataka over its alleged corruption and dynasty politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday dubbed it a "20 per cent government", saying their only mission was "commission." Intensifying his campaign blitz in Karnataka, Modi also asserted there was a wave across the country for the return of the BJP-led NDA government in the Lok Sabha polls, which was between "Rashtravad (nationalism) and Pariwarvad (dynasty)." He lashed out at the Deve Gowda family, targeting the JDS supremo's son Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy over his reported remark that only those who cannot get two square meals a day seek jobs in the services, terming it an 'insult' to the armed forces. He also hit out at Gowda's other son and minister H D Revanna, without naming him, for his remark that he would retire from politics if Modi was voted back to power. The Prime Minister is addressing back to back rallies in Karnataka, where the BJP has targetted to win ..
Cong manifesto is not Man Ki Baat of megalomaniac, its Kam ki
Taking a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio talk programme, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said his party's manifesto was not the "Man Ki Baat of one megalomaniac" but talked about work of the nation. Addressing an election rally in this southern town in Tamil Nadu, he claimed Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls was the voice of the entire nation and he was happy that many people lauded it. "Congress manifesto is not the "Man Ki Baat of one megalomaniac this is Kam ki Baat (a talk about work) of the nation," he said. Describing as "most revolutionary" NYAY, his party's poll promise of Minimum Income Support Scheme which envisages a payout of Rs 72,000 per year to the poorest of the poor, Gandhi asserted no government in the world had so far attempted such a plan. He accused the Prime Minister of pursuing "negative economics" and said people's purchasing power collapsed and it led to goods left lying in factories. As a result factories ...