Page 928 - Politics
Mamata says unlike PM she does not ask for votes in soldiers
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday expressed solidarity with army veterans conveying outrage over alleged use of armed forces for political purposes and asked the BJP leadership not to build their identity riding on the sacrifices and achievements of the soldiers. The Trinamool Congress president said unlike Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she does not ask for votes in the name of the soldiers. Banerjee, an important leader of the anti-BJP bloc, claimed that it will be difficult for the BJP to cross 100 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha election. Addressing a poll rally here for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency, Banerjee claimed that "regional parties have become important, we will together form the government." The TMC chief had floated the idea of a Federal Front of regional parties on the eve of Parliamentary elections. Banerjee said she was proud of the Army for achieving great feats for the country, and asserted that name of the soldiers should not be
Andhra CM blasts EC for turning polls into 'farce'
A day after polling in Andhra Pradesh, which was marred by the malfunctioning of some EVMs, Chief Minister and TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday blasted the Election Commission for what he called "turning the elections into a big farce".
Naxal attack political conspiracy, CBI should probe it: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Friday described the Naxal attack in which a Chhattisgarh BJP MLA was killed as a political conspiracy and sought a CBI probe into it. BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi and four police personnel were killed in the Naxal attack on Tuesday, two days before polling in Bastar Lok Sabha constituency. Addressing a poll rally in Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, Shah said the Naxal attack was not a normal incident and "it seems that it was a political conspiracy". "The attack should be probed by the CBI," Shah said. On demand for having a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir, the BJP chief said, "Kashmir cannot be separated from India till the last BJP worker is alive". When the Balakot air strike was conducted, Indians were happy but there was grief in Pakistan and the Congress office, Shah said.
BJP demands re-polling in 297 West Bengal booths
A BJP delegation on Friday approached the Election Commission (EC) demanding re-polling in 297 booths in West Bengal's Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency that voted on Thursday in the first phase of polling.
Uganda delegation visits Noida for election tips
A delegation of poll officials from Uganda was in Noida and Greater Noida where they visited voting sites to understand the nuances of election process in the world's largest democracy, according to officials. The four-member delegation visited four polling booths, including one critical, with three of them in Noida and the rest in Greater Noida, the officials said. The delegation from Uganda comprised its Deputy Chairperson for Election Aisha B Lubega, commissioners Kigozi Sabaggala Mustapha and Ahabwe Justin Mugabi, and senior Election Officer Matsiko Emmanuel, a senior official said. "The delegation was made aware of the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation programme, better known as SVEEP, a flagship programme of the Election Commission of India for voter education," said Rajeev Tyagi, the nodal officer for SVEEP here. "The visitors from Uganda were surprised with the festival-like fervour among citizens at the polling booths where several people were queued up
BJP workers frustrated, Cong will win in Goa: Chodankar
Several BJP workers, frustrated and angry with some of the "immoral decisions" of the ruling party, are openly supporting the Congress, the opposition party's Goa unit chief and Lok Sabha candidate Girish Chodankar claimed Friday. Chodankar is pitted against Union AYUSH minister Shripad Naik in the North Goa Lok Sabha seat, the latter having held the seat since 1999. Addressing a press conference here, Chodankar claimed there was an "anti-BJP" wave in Goa which would help the Congress win the North Goa and South Goa Lok Sabha seats as well as the three Assembly bypolls in Shiroda, Mandrem and Mapusa. "Several BJP workers have openly extended support to me and Congress South Goa Lok Sabha candidate Francisco Sardinha. The message among people is clear. They want the BJP to be defeated as it has attacked democracy. Its workers are frustrated and angry at the BJP's immoral decisions," he said. The Congress has routinely attacked the BJP for cobbling together a coalition ...
BJP protests inside Bengal CEO chamber
Intensifying their protest against stray incidents of violence during and after elections in Cooch Behar, BJP leaders on Friday held a sit-in demonstration inside the chamber of West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), demanding deployment of central forces in all booths in the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha polls.
Cong complains to EC over 'politicisation' of armed forces, Irani's 'contradictory' affidavits
The Congress on Friday moved the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah for allegedly "dragging" the armed forces in the political domain by using them to seek votes. A Congress delegation, comprising Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Randeep Surjewala, made several representations such as over Union minister Smriti Irani's "contradictory affidavits" to the Election Commission on her educational qualifications and a web series on Prime Minister Modi. The party gave a memorandum to EC over Irani's contradictory affidavits, demanding that she should be disqualified from contesting. "PM Modi, BJP chief (Amit Shah) and other leaders of the ruling party are shamelessly and openly, for the first time in 70 years, are dragging the forces into cheap politics," Singhvi told reporters outside the Election Commission. "Dragging the armed forces in political crossfire, asking for votes and doing cheap politics (using the forces), only Narendra Modi and Amit Shah .
Elections would have no bearing on Kashmir issue: Mirwaiz
Back home after facing questioning by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi in a terror funding case, Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told a Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid here that the separatists would not change their stand on Kashmir issue due to coercion. The Mirwaiz said that elections would have no bearing on the issue and it needs to be addressed. It is our policy that Kashmir issue has to be resolved. If not today, but tomorrow, there has to be a peaceful solution to the issue. There is no option before India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership than to address the issue. We will not change our stand because of this policy of use of force or coercion, he said addressing the people who had gathered for Friday prayers at the mosque. The separatist leader said Kashmir is a political issue which has to be resolved politically. "Governments will come and go, but the basic issue will remain there till it is not resolved, he said. The Hurriyat chairman ...
Lumpen elements once with the Communists are now with TMC: Vinay Sahasrabuddhe
Lumpen elements who were once with the Communists have now joined the TMC in West Bengal, BJP national vice-president and Rajya Sabha member Vinay Sahasrabuddhe said on Friday. He alleged that the Left and the TMC have changed "labels", but in reality are the same. Speaking at the release of a report card of the BJP-led central government prepared by Public Policy Research Centre (PPRC), Sahasrabuddhe said that the next report card will be of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, which will be released next week, days ahead of the second phase of the general elections to be held on April 18. "The people of the state had voted the TMC to power expecting change from the 30 years of Left rule, but in return they did not get anything," he claimed. "They had talked of 'maa, mati, manush' and even we believed that she was an experienced leader and she will initiate change. However, from 2011-2016 and 2016 till now, we have seen that her talk of 'maa, mati ...
Modi to canvass for Jitendra Singh in Kathua on Sunday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on Sunday to canvass for Union Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh, who is seeking re-election from Udhampur Lok Sabha seat where polling will be held in the second phase on April 18. Jitendra Singh is in direct contest with Congress' Vikramaditya Singh, the grandson of last ruler of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh and the son of Congress leader Karan Singh, in the seat. "Modiji will address a massive public rally in Kathua stadium Sunday morning," state BJP chief Ravinder Raina, said, adding that two lakh people from Kathua, Hiranagar, Bani, Billawar, Basohli, Ramnagar are expected to attend it. This would be Modi's second visit to the state to campaign for party candidates. He had addressed an election rally in Akhnoor on March 28. BJP president Amit Shah joined the election campaign in the state by addressing two rallies in Udhampur and Sunderbani in Rajouri ...
Will never seek votes in the name of army: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday that she was proud of the country's armed forces but will never seek votes in the name of the army like Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rahul to be on two-day whirlwind campaign in Kerala
Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who arrives here on Monday night, will campaign across the state for two days, where he will also cover his constituency -Wayanad - on Wednesday.
No one can separate Kashmir from India till BJP exists: Shah
Hitting out at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for his "silence" on ally Omar Abdullah's pitch for a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir, BJP president Amit Shah Friday asserted no one can make India part with the state as long as the BJP exists. Shah also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties are unhappy with the success of the Indian Air Force's strike on terrorist camps at Balakot in Pakistan in retaliation for the Pulwama terror attack. "Omar Abdullah has suggested appointing a separate prime minister for Kashmir. Is it possible to have two PMs in a country? Can there be a second PM in Kashmir? "Rahul Baba (Gandhi) is silent on his poll ally Abdullah's suggestion (separate PM for Kashmir)...He has not uttered a word," Shah told an election rally here. Asserting that Kashmir is an inseparable and inalienable part of India, the BJP chief said, "No one can take away Kashmir from us. As long as the BJP exists, Kashmir will continue to be an ...
Modi to address two rallies in TN on Saturday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing two election rallies in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, said an official of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Holding of public meetings; WB BJP withdraws contempt plea against state govt
West Bengal unit of the BJP Friday withdrew from the Supreme Court its plea alleging that choppers carrying the party's national president Amit Shah and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were not being allowed to land in the state. State BJP had in February filed a plea seeking contempt action, alleging violation of the apex court's order, against state authorities for denying permission to hold public meetings in West Bengal. The apex court, on January 15, had allowed public meetings of BJP in the state. However, it had ordered that as regards the "rath yatras", the Mamta Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government consider afresh the revised proposal of BJP, keeping in mind the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under the Constitution. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna expressed its unwillingness to hear the plea after which the BJP counsel sought permission to withdraw it. Earlier, the apex court had put on ..
HC dismisses plea against Mehbooba, Omar, Farooq
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on Kashmiri leaders Mehbooba Mufti, Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah from participating in the Lok Sabha elections.
BJP alleges rigging by TMC in Cooch Behar, demands repoll
The BJP leadership Friday demanded repoll at several booths in Cooch Bebar Lok Sabha seat alleging that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) indulged in malpractices during polling there Thursday. The saffron party also claimed that the TMC rigged those booths where state police personnel were on guard and the Election Commission failed to provide adequate security to the voters. Polling was held in Cooch Bebar and Alipurduar seats in north Bengal in the first phase on Thursday and around 81 per cent of 34.52 lakh voters exercised their franchise. "There should be repoll in Cooch Behar Lok Sabha seat. Several booths were rigged by the TMC as the security in these booths were provided by the state police. We wanted central forces to provide security cover," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said. The BJP candidate of Cooch Behar seat Nishit Pramanik Thursday night held a protest in front of the district magistrate's office, demanding re-poll in all booths where central ...
No disputes in family: Lalu Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti
Dismissing the reports of infighting between her brothers Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav due to distribution of tickets, RJD candidate from Patliputra Misa Bharti has said the opposition is "spreading these rumours", but her party is united to end Modi raj. "There are no problems between them. Tej Pratap ji always considered Tejashwi as his 'Arjun'. He might have suggested some names and discussions might be going on or party must have taken decision unanimously. It is a common process and every political party goes through it," Bharti, the eldest daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, told PTI in an email interview. "It doesn't mean that they are not with the final decision that the party made. Opposition is happy spreading these rumours, but people know that elections are contested on issue. The RJD is united and firm on turning the tide against the Modi government," she said. There have been reports that Tej Pratap Yadav, the mercurial elder son of Lalu-Rabri, had been resentful
LS polls best opportunity for people to defeat 'communal agenda' of BJP, RSS: Mir
JKPCC president G A Mir alleged Friday that the secular fabric of the country was in great "danger" under the BJP government and said this general election is the best opportunity for the people to defeat the "communal agenda" of BJP and the RSS. Mir, who is the Congress candidate for Anantnag constituency, was addressing an election rally in Khanabal area of the south Kashmir district. "The secular fabric of India is in great danger under the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He believes in divisive politics, besides dividing communities for electoral gains," Mir alleged. "But the Congress and the people of the country will jointly defeat the nefarious designs of BJP-RSS to ensure that secular fabric was not harmed," he said. The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president claimed that the BJP would go to any extent to "divide people to remain in power". "The time has changed, people have realised the anti-minority policies of Modi and will vote ..