Page 944 - Politics

Three injured in Arunachal Pradesh poll clashes

Three persons were injured when supporters of two rival political parties clashed in the Tali Assembly constituency of Arunachal Pradesh during polling on Thursday, an election official said.

Will ensure Gorkha identity is protected: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said her government will work hand-in-hand with the main parties in the Darjeeling hills to make sure that the identity of the Gorkha community does not come under threat.

Sacrifice of Mandavi, others won't be in vain: Rajnath

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Thursday that the sacrifice of BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi and the four policemen who were killed in a Naxal attack will not go in vain, and the perpetrators will be punished. Addressing an election rally at Basna in Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency of Chhattisgarh, Singh also slammed the Congress for promising to repeal the sedition law. Mandavi and four others were killed in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district Tuesday when the Naxals blew up their vehicle. "I am pained by the martyrdom of MLA Bheema Mandavi and jawans. Their sacrifice will not go in vain. The perpetrators will not be forgiven," Singh said. "Change can be brought in Naxal-affected areas through democratic ways, not through guns. The Naxals have now weakened in the country. The Centre stands with the state in its fight against the Naxals," he said. On Congress' promise to repeal the sedition law, the Union home minister asked the gathering "whether the anti-national ...

Marginal improvement in voter turnout in Sopore, hotbed of separatists and militancy

The apple town of Sopore, a hotbed of separatists and militancy with a reputation of remaining indifferent to electoral politics, saw a slight improvement in turnout during polling for Baramulla Lok Sabha seat Thursday. Defying boycott call by separatists and militant threats, three per cent of the over one lakh eligible voters exercised their franchise till 3 pm at polling stations in Sopore assembly segment, which is part of Baramulla Lok Sabha seat in north Kashmir, officials said. They said the voter turn out for Sopore in 2014 Lok Sabha polls was mere 1.08 per cent. Since the eruption of militancy in Kashmir in 1990, Sopore town has seen low voter turnout in the elections. However, in 2014 Assembly polls, the voters had elected Congress candidate Haji Abdul Rashid Dar to the state assembly and the voter turn out was 30 per cent -- the highest since turn of the millennium. Those who exercised their franchise were willing to give many reasons why they defied militant threats and ...

Congress' new scam is 'Tughlaq Road Chunavi Ghotala,' says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hit out at the Congress party saying that a new scam of the grand old party has been exposed called "Tughlaq Road Chunavi Ghotala."Prime Minister Modi, who was addressing an election rally here, Prime Minister said: "The Congress is a party that has taken money of the poor and to vote for them is an act of sin."Hitting out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi indirectly, PM Modi said: "These days a new scam has been exposed and that is 'Tughlaq Road Chunavi Ghotala.'...Everybody knows who lives on Tughlaq Road in Delhi."It is worth mentioning that the official residence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi is located on Tughlaq Road in Sir Edwin Lutyens' Delhi."For the past a few days, there have been transactions of huge sums of black money from this residence. Stacks of notes are being recovered from the people related to the Congress," said Modi.Talking about Assam, he said: "I have come to take your blessings and thank you for your support. It .

Over 46% turnout in J&K till 3 p.m., polling peaceful (3rd Lead)

Over 46 per cent voting was recorded in Jammu and Kashmir's two Lok Sabha constituencies of Jammu and Baramulla till 3 p.m. on Thursday during a generally peaceful poll process save an incident of stone-pelting that left a woman injured.

Pak 'supporting' Modi, wants riots to spread in India: Kejriwal

Pakistan and its Prime Minister Imran Khan are "supporting" Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha polls as they want riots to spread in India, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged Thursday. The Aam Aadmi Party chief also alleged that what Pakistan could not do in 70 years, their "friend" Modi did it in five years -- that is damaging India's brotherhood. His remarks on Twitter came after the BJP tweeted that it will ensure implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the country and will "remove every single infiltrator", except Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. "Pakistan and (prime minister) Imran Khan want riots to spread in India. That is why Pakistan is openly supporting Modi in the upcoming polls," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. In an interview to a small group of foreign journalists, Imran Khan had said that he believes there may be a better chance of peace talks with India and settle the Kashmir issue if Prime Minister Modi's party BJP wins the general ...

Oppn scared and hence indulging in scaremongering: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led opposition saying the "mahamilavati gang" is scared that if he comes to power again, their "shops" of corruption and dynastic politics will shut down. Addressing an election rally here, Modi also said the opposition wants to strip the armed forces of their special powers, while the NDA government strives to give full liberty to jawans to deal with terrorists and Maoists. Referring to the constituents of the "mahagathbandhan" (grand alliance) in Bihar as "mahamilavati (highly adulterated) gang", the prime minister claimed, "They fear that if Modi comes to power again, their shops of corruption, dynastic politics and venal defence deals will shut down." "They are saying if Modi comes to power again, elections would be done away with. All constitutional bodies will be under threat. And reservations will be done away with," the prime minister said adding that "this chowkidar" has been ...

Mnuchin postpones decision on handing over Trump tax returns

The Treasury Department has missed a deadline to deliver President Donald Trump's tax returns to the House Ways and Means Committee chairman. In a letter to committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said his department hasn't decided whether to comply with the demand and said Treasury will consult with the Justice Department and "carefully" review the request further. Neal asked for Trump's returns a week ago. "The legal implications of this request could affect protections for all Americans against politically-motivated disclosures of personal tax information, regardless of which party is in power," Mnuchin wrote. He said Treasury respects lawmakers' oversight duties and would make sure taxpayer protections would be "scrupulously observed, consistent with my statutory responsibilities" as the department reviews the request. Earlier Wednesday, Trump weighed in, telling reporters that he won't agree to release his returns while he is ...

LS polls begin; Voters turn out in large numbers to elect 91 MPs in 1st phase

The world's largest democratic exercise began Thursday with crores of Indians coming out to vote to elect 91 parliamentarians in the first phase of over-a-month-long Lok Sabha polls for which the Modi government has made nationalism its core pitch to retain power amid a fragmented challenge from Congress and a number of regional players. Election officials said voter turnout was high at most places, while poll-related violence saw death of two persons in Andhra Pradesh and complaints poured in from various states about glitches in electronic voting machines and of names missing from the voter lists. The 91 Lok Sabha constituencies in the first phase, spread across 18 states and two union territories, have more than 14 crore voters -- about one-sixth of nearly 90 crore total electorate in India. Votes for all 543 seats would be counted on May 23 after end of the seven-phase polling on May 19. An estimated 1.5 crore young voters in the age group of 18-19 years would vote for the first ..

Flutter after 'green light' pointed at Rahul in Amethi road show, MHA says no threat

A green laser light pointed at Congress President Rahul Gandhi during his roadshow in Amethi on Wednesday created a scare, but the Home Ministry said there was no threat to his life. However, sources said that a security breach was alleged when the laser light was seen pointed at the head of Rahul during the roadshow. This led to security concerns within the party, but it was later found that the light was from a camera. When contacted, a home ministry spokesperson said as soon as the ministry's attention was drawn to reports about the incident, the Director (Special Protection Group) was asked to verify the factual position. "Director (SPG) has informed MHA that they have gone through the video clipping of the incident very closely. The 'green light' shown in the clipping was found to be that of a mobile phone used by the AICC photographer, who was videographing the impromptu press interaction of Rahul Gandhi near the collectorate at Amethi. "Director (SPG) has also informed MHA that

Over 45% vote in Uttarakhand till 3 p.m. (3rd Lead)

Over 45 per cent voting was recorded till 3 p.m. on Thursday for Uttarakhand's five Lok Sabha seats, said an official. "Till 3 p.m., the voting percentage was around 46.59 per cent," said Saujanya, Chief Electoral Officer of Uttarakhand.

Irani files papers from Amethi, takes on Rahul

Union minister Smriti Irani Thursday filed her nomination papers from Amethi, pitting herself against Congress president Rahul Gandhi who has won thrice from the Lok Sabha constituency regarded as Gandhi family pocket borough. Irani filed her papers after a road show, which followed a similar route taken by the one organised by the Congress when Rahul Gandhi filed his own nomination papers here on Wednesday. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accompanied her in the show of strength in a constituency nursed by the Union textiles minister even after being defeated by Rahul Gandhi in 2014, the first time the BJP nominated her as its candidate from Amethi. Irani, who has been lashing out at Gandhi for missing from Amethi and over the lack of development in the constituency, continued her attack Thursday. She questioned his silence over the Income Tax raids against close aides of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath. "What type of politics is the Congress practising when its .

Baba Ramdev casts vote in Haridwar

Yog Guru Baba Ramdev cast his vote on Thursday in Haridwar.Speaking to ANI after casting his vote, Ramdev said: "Nationalism and development are the key election issues. Although unemployment, poverty, black money, corruption, farmer distress are important issues too, but national security cannot be compromised on."He added that people should not vote for those who try to divide the nation by creating animosity among people on the lines of caste, class and religion.Notably, Ramdev met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. In a tweet after the meeting, Ramdev wrote that the country should vote for Narendra Modi once again in the 2019 elections.Talking about NOTA, he said it was better to choose the best among the given candidates rather than choosing the NOTA option. "Do not Press the NOTA button. There are imperfections in every candidate, choose the one that you find the least imperfect."Voting is underway in Uttarakhand for all five Lok Sabha seats, currently held by the BJP. ..

SC to pronounce verdict on electoral bonds scheme on Friday

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on the public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Central government's electoral bonds scheme for political funding.A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will pronounce its order on Friday morning on the PIL filed by NGO Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the CPI (M).The NGO has sought a stay on the electoral bonds scheme or to make it mandatory to disclose the name of those who are buying them for maintaining transparency in political funding.

Omar tweets Congress EVM button not working, EC replaces machines

After former chief minister Omar Abdullah claimed in a tweet that the button corresponding to the Congress symbol was not working in many EVMs in Poonch on Thursday, District Election Officer (DEO) Rahul Yadav said that the faulty EVMs have been replaced."There was an issue with Congress button in Shahpur, our staff has replaced the machine. At polling station number 8, BJP button was not working, we changed that also. There was a problem with a different button at another polling station," Yadav told ANI."EVM is a machine. There may be problems with some. That is why we have kept 20 per cent machines in reserve. Machines are selected randomly. There is nothing like targeting a single party. Whenever such problems arise, we fix it quickly as per the guidelines of the Election Commission," he added.Earlier, Abdullah had tweeted a video in which claims were made that the button corresponding to the Congress symbol was not working in polling stations in Poonch.In the ongoing first phase .

TDP accuses YSRCP leaders of violence, writes to DGP

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday accused YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders of indulging in violence and damaging electronic voting machines (EVMs).In a letter to Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) RP Thakur, TDP president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stated that the polling agents of YSRCP were resorting to violence and obstructing the polling process."There is a lot of violence in Kadapa, Anantapuram, and Kurnool and Nellore districts...In certain cases, they have even damaged the polling materials like EVMs and threatening polling personnel to allow them to rig votes.""Controlling law and order situation and ensuring peaceful conduct of poll is of immediate necessity...I request you to instruct all the Superintendents of Police and other law enforcing agencies to strictly control the law and order and arrest the culprits and take stringent action against the persons responsible," Naidu writes in the letter.Earlier in the day, the TDP and the YSRCP workers

Congress claims serious breach in security of Rahul; MHA denies

Congress on Thursday claimed a serious breach in the security of party president Rahul Gandhi and has written to Union Minister Rajnath Singh citing a possible threat to his life.In its letter dated April 10, the Congress claimed that a green laser was pointed at least seven times at Rahul Gandhi's head, during his media interaction which was held after he filed his nomination papers from the Amethi parliamentary constituency.The MHA, however, stated that it had received no such letter from the Congress and that it had conducted an investigation and found that the "green light" shown in the clipping was from a mobile phone used by the AICC photographer, who was video graphing the press interaction of Rahul Gandhi near the collectorate at Amethi.Congress President is under the protection by the SPG.The letter signed by Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Jairam Ramesh and Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "A perusal of his media interaction will reflect that a laser (green) was pointed at his ...

Sudan President steps down as head of state after anti-government protests

Bowing down to anti-government protests, Sudan President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday, resigned as the head of the state, confirmed Sudanese military.Bashir has been placed under house arrests and his bodyguards have been detained, reported Anadolu Agency.People in Sudan hit the streets after the government increased the prices of bread and fuel in December last year.In February, a year-long emergency was declared in Sudan by President Omar al-Bashir following continued anti-government protests in the nation.Furthermore, federal and state governments were dissolved by Bashir, reported Anadolu Agency.Around 31 people have lost their lives ever since the protests started two months back, according to official figures. The opposition, however, has put the number of deceased at 50.Wanted by International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and genocide, Bashir, came to power in a 1989 coup.Last year, Sudan was the among seven nations that were blacklisted by the United States for ...

Sonia Gandhi files nomination from Rae Bareli, says Modi not invincible

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday filed her nomination as the Congress party's candidate for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli.Ahead of filing her nomination, she performed a puja in the company of her son Congress President Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.Responding to mediapersons queries on her thoughts about the seeming invincibility of PM Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha she said, "Not at all. Do not forget 2004. Vajpayee Ji was invincible, but we won."The Vajpayee-led BJP suffered defeat in the 2004 general elections after Congress formed the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre with its allies.Sonia on Thursday arrived at district Collector's office to file nomination from Rae Bareli, a bastion of the grand old party for decades.She had registered the victory in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections by a margin of over three lakh votes.Meanwhile, when Congress President Rahul Gandhi was asked the same question on Modi, he said: ...