Page 945 - Politics
Moscow says Britain 'strangling freedom' with Assange arrest
Russia on Thursday slammed Britain's arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as a move against democratic freedoms and called on London to respect his rights. "The hand of 'democracy' is strangling freedom," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Facebook after British police arrested Assange at Ecuador's embassy in London. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed hope that the WikiLeaks founder's rights would be respected. Asked if Russia was ready to give Assange asylum, Peskov sidestepped the question but told journalists: "We certainly hope that all his rights will be respected." British police arrested Assange after his asylum was withdrawn. He had been living at the embassy since 2012 when he sought refuge there.
Raj Thackeray, Dhananjay Munde in demand to campaign for Cong
MNS chief Raj Thackeray and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde are among the non-Congress leaders, who are in demand from the grand old party to canvas for its candidates in Maharashtra, sources said. Thackeray, known as a fiery orator, is likely to campaign for Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan and senior leader Sushilkumar Shinde in Nanded and Solapur constituencies respectively. There is also a possibility of him campaigning for Congress candidates in some seats in Mumbai, they said. These seats go to polls in second and fourth phases of the general polls. The MNS, which is not contesting the polls, is not a part of the grand alliance being led by the Congress and NCP against the BJP. According to the source, the Congress had also requested Munde, who is the Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council, to campaign for its candidates in 10 seats- Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Wardha, Chandrapur and Yavatmal (phase 1); Nanded and Hingoli (phase 2); Jalna and ...
Cong stalwart Vikhe Patil attends BJP workers' meet
Senior Maharashtra Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Thursday attended a meeting chaired by his son and BJP candidate Sujay Vikhe Patil to review preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Ahmednagar Lok Sabha seat. The Congress stalwart, who is currently the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, is likely join the BJP in the presence of Modi at his rally on Friday, sources close to him said. The meeting of BJP workers was held in Ahmednagar. Sujay Vikhe Patil was earlier keen on being nominated by the Congress from the Ahmednagar constituency, which has traditionally been contested by its ally NCP. He joined the BJP last month after the NCP refused to vacate the seat for his electoral debut, and was subsequently given a ticket by the saffron party. He is pitted against NCP's Sangram Jagtap in the Ahmednagar Lok Sabha seat.
UK business cautiously welcomes Brexit extension
British business on Thursday gave a cautious welcome to yet another Brexit extension -- but also urged an end to the "chaos" that has plagued the nation's withdrawal from the European Union. European leaders have agreed with British Prime Minister Theresa May to delay Brexit until October 31 at the latest, saving the continent from a chaotic no-deal departure on Friday. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which is the country's biggest employers' organisation, said that the overnight development avoids a messy no-deal "crisis". However, the influential lobby group also called for May to end Brexit uncertainty and seek cross-party consensus on the way forward. "This new extension means imminent economic crisis has been averted, but it needs to mark a fresh start," said CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn. "For the good of jobs and communities across the country, all political leaders must use the time well. "Sincere cross-party collaboration must happen now to end this ...
I&B Ministry asks Prasar Bharati to ensure level-playing field for all parties after EC directive
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has instructed public broadcaster Prasar Bharati to ensure that the Election Commission's directive to "desist" from extending any preferential or disproportionate airtime coverage in favour of any party is adhered to in letter and spirit. I&B Secretary Amit Khare, in a letter to Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati, instructed that the coverage by Doordarshan and All India Radio abides by the EC directive and asked him put in place a mechanism for adherence to the Model Code of Conduct, sources said. In a strongly-worded letter to the secretary of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the EC said, "Would like you (secretary) to direct the DD News channel to desist from extending any preferential or disproportionate airtime coverage in favour of any party and extend commensurate and balanced coverage of the activities of all recognised political parties..." The commission had recently issued a show-cause notice to DD News for ...
China defends exit ban on human rights lawyer
China on Thursday defended an exit ban imposed on a human rights lawyer as lawful after the United States urged Beijing to let him travel to receive a US fellowship. Chen Jiangang was selected to study English as part of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship, a programme named for the late vice president that provides a year of US education for emerging leaders from around the world. But the lawyer said he was pulled aside by customs at Beijing Capital airport as he prepared to board a flight to Seattle on April 1 and told he was banned from leaving China. "This persecution of lawyers and disregard for the rule of law once again shows to the world that the Chinese government is openly and unceasingly depriving people of their human rights," he said in a statement. "Nothing stops the Chinese government from doing whatever it wants to, disregarding any law or commitment it makes," he said. The US State Department said it was "disturbed" by the move and urged China to "respect Chen's freedom
DMK always supported Puducherry's statehood demand: Stalin
DMK President M K Stalin Thursday said his party always supported Puducherry's demand for full statehood. The late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi had also been in total support ofstatehood for Puducherry, he said at a public meeting organised here by the Secular Progressive Alliance. Stalin was canvassing votes for former Puducherry Assembly Speaker and Congress nominee for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the union territory V Vaithilingam and DMK candidate K Venkatesan for the Thattanchavady Assembly by-poll. "The DMK has always supported Puducherry's full statehood demand. We will never let down Puducherry at any cost," he said. Stalin alleged that the AINRC had not taken steps to persuade the Centre to grant statehood to Puducherry though its candidate was the MP from the union territory. He recalled that protests had broken out when an attempt was made in 1979 by the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai and then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M G Ramachandran to dismantle the ...
A lot at stake for BJP in first phase LS polls
As voters cast their ballot in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls for 91 seats across 18 states and two union territories, it is the Bharatiya Janata Party that has a lot at stake. It had won 32 of these seats in 2014.
Modi not invincible, says Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "not invincible" and it will become clear after the Lok Sabha elections.
46.59 per cent electorate cast their vote in U'khand till 3 pm
Polling in Uttarakhand's five Lok Sabha seats saw 46.59 per cent voter turnout till 3 pm on Thursday, an official said. The fate of 52 candidates will be decided by over 78 lakh voters of the state, where all the five seats -- Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Almora and Nainital -- are being held by the BJP. Polling began at 7 am and there was 46.59 per cent polling in Uttarakhand by 3 pm, Chief Electoral Officer Saujanya said. The BJP is locked in straight contests with the Congress on all the seats. High-profile candidates in the fray are ex-chief minister Harish Rawat, who takes on state BJP chief Ajay Bhatt in Nainital; ex-CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank who faces Congress's Ambrish Kumar in Haridwar; BJP national secretary Tirath Singh Rawat is up against B C Khanduri's son Manish Khanduri in Pauri; and sitting MPs Ajay Tamta (Lok Sabha) and Pradeep Tamta (Rajya Sabha) in Almora.
BJP yet to decide candidate for Rajasthan's Dausa seat, tussle among ticket aspirants
The BJP is yet to decide its candidate for Rajasthan's Dausa Lok Sabha seat where a tussle is on among scores of ticket aspirants. Dausa is among 12 constituencies of the state which will go to poll in the second phase on May 6 and the only seat left for the party to announce its candidate. While BJP leader Kirori Meena is demanding ticket for his wife and former MLA Golma Devi, independent MLA Omprakash Hudla, with support from former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, is also staking claim for the Dausa seat, party sources said. Hudla had contested the assembly election after his ticket was denied by the BJP. "There is a situation of confusion and no clarity about the candidate so far. We at the state unit have no information about it," BJP state president Madan Lal Saini told PTI on Thursday. "The name of the candidate will be announced as soon as it is decided by the party leadership in Delhi," Saini added. Meanwhile, speculations were rife on Wednesday that the party declared former
Goa minister politicising IAF for votes: Congress
In a complaint to the Election Commission, the Goa Congress on Thursday alleged that state Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho had referred to the IAF as "Modi's Air Force" during the Prime Minister's rally in Panaji on Wednesday.
First time voters want jobs, political statibility in
A good job, political stability and peaceful environment are on the wish list of many first time voters in Arunachal Pradesh, where simultaneous Lok Sabha and assemly polls are being held on Thursday. They want upcoming lawmakers of the state to change the narrative for a better tomorrow, saying the state's development should be their main agenda. Kalung Pinky, who cast her vote at Government Secondary School polling station at P-Sector here, said she had exercised her franchise according to her conscience. "People should vote for those persons, irrespective of their party affiliations, who can really work in the interest of the people. "I hope the first time voters will elect those candidates who will be able to change the stereotype political scene in the state so that people can lead a peaceful life without any discrimination in the developmental process," 21-year-old Pinky said. Another first time voter Yari Nabam who cast her vote at Arunudaya Higher Secondary ...
Modi charges Cong with 'Tughlaq Road Chunav Ghotala'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday slammed the Congress for indulging in corruption and said a new scam "Tughlaq Road Chunav Ghotala" by it has come to the fore. In the new scam crores of rupees meant for nutrition of poor children and expectant mothers have been seized even even as old cases og corruption against it are still on, he told an rally here. The "naamdari parivar" (famed family) is engaged in corruption and has made it a way a life for which its members are now on bail, but they call the "chowkidar a chor", he said. "There is a Tughlaq Road in Delhi and there is a bungalow there where a big leader lives. During the last few days, a game involving several crores of rupees is being played. Sack loads of currency notes are being recovered from those people who are connected with this bungalow," he said. "This is the Tughlaq Road Chunav Ghotala and Congress indulges in corruption to win elections ... If they do not loot, how will they fight elections ? "It .
Fadnavis casts vote in Nagpur
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis cast his vote for the Lok Sabha election at Dharampeth Hindi High School polling booth here Thursday. Union minister and sitting MP Nitin Gadkari is facing Congress' Nana Patole in Nagpur constituency. Both Gadkari and Fadnavis hail from Nagpur. The chief minister arrived at the polling booth with his wife Amruta and mother Sarita Fadnavis at 12.20 pm. Speaking with media after casting his vote, he said, "India is the world's biggest democracy and democracy will be strengthened if people take part in the election process enthusiastically. "I believe that Maharashtra, Vidarbha and the entire country will vote in a big way to elect a strong government," the chief minister added. Seven constituencies in Vidarbha are going to the polls Thursday.
Rahul has not done justice to Amethi: Yogi
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth said on Thursday that Congress President Rahul Gandhi has not done justice to his parliamentary constituency Amethi.
No one ready to stand with you: Shah tells Mamata
Slamming West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her efforts to form a grand alliance with opposition leaders, BJP President Amit Shah on Thursday claimed that "no one is ready to stand" with her.
Sonia files nomination, Rahul attacks PM
UPA Chairperson and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination papers for the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday and declared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not invincible.
Priyanka asks politicians to learn from mother Sonia's devotion to Rae Bareli
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said Thursday every politician should learn devotion to the people of Rae Bareli from her mother Sonia Gandhi, who filed her nomination papers from the Lok Sabha constituency. Taking to Twitter, Priyanka Gandhi said the meaning of politics is public service and dedication and every politician should be thankful to the people of the country. "Every candidate, every politician, should learn from my mother's devotion to the people of Rae Bareli. The meaning of politics is public service and dedication. Whoever gets this opportunity should be thankful to the people," she said in a tweet in Hindi. She also attached the photograph of Sonia Gandhi filing her nomination papers in Rae Bareli before the returning office.
Rahul must speak up on raids against Kamal Nath's aides: Irani
Union minister Smriti Irani Thursday questioned the silence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi over the I-T raids against close aides of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath. The Income-Tax Department had Monday detected a "widespread and well-organised" racket of collection of unaccounted cash of about Rs 281 crore during raids against close aides of Nath. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said the department had also detected a trail of Rs 20 crore suspect cash allegedly being moved to the "headquarters of a major political party in Delhi" from the house of an important person who lives on Tughlaq Road. Responding to a question on 'chowkidar ki chori' remark made by the Congress president, Irani told reporters here, "Why isn't Rahul Gandhi revealing who the gentleman from Madhya Pradesh is who transferred loot money to a person residing on Tughlaq Road?" "What type of politics is the Congress practising wherein its leaders commit the sin of looting money meant for the ...