Page 955 - Politics

Cong capitalising on Pak PM's remarks on LS polls: Goyal

Union minister Piyush Goyal Wednesday accused the Congress of capitalising on Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks that there may be a better chance of Indo-Pak peace talks if BJP was voted back to power. The minister said the grand old party seemed to have joined hands with Khan. Imran Khan has said he believes there may be a better chance of peace talks with India and settle the Kashmir issue if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party BJP wins the general elections. He said other parties would be afraid of right-wing backlash in case of settlement on the Kashmir issue. Reacting to Khan's statement, the Congress and other opposition parties Wednesday said a vote for Modi is a vote for Pakistan. The Congress also said that Khan's remarks reflect that neighbouring country has "officially allied" with Modi. Talking to reporters here, Goyal said, "The way the Congress immediately responded over Khan's comment, it seems they have joined hands with him. In fact, Pakistan

Pakistan seems to have allied with Modi: Congress

The Congress on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over remarks of his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan that peace talks prospects with India were better if Modi won the polls, saying Islamabad seemed to have officially allied with Modi.

All arrangements made for polling in 2 J&K LS seats: officials

All arrangements, including elaborate security deployment, are in place for Thursday's polling in Jammu and Baramulla Lok Sabha constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

EC directs producers not to release biopics on NTR and KCR

The Election Commission Wednesday ordered the producers of 'Laxmi's NTR' and 'Udyama Simham', the two biopics based on the lives of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N T Rama Rao and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao respectively, not to release the movies till further orders. It said any biopic material in the nature of biography/hagiography sub-serving the purpose of any political entity or an individual entity connected to it, which is intended to, or which has the potential to disturb the level-playing field during the elections should not be displayed in electronic media including cinematography during the operation of Model Code of Conduct. The Election Commission in its order directing the producers of 'Laxmi's NTR', said the biopic of the late N T Rama Rao, which "purported" to depict incumbent state Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in a manner "allegedly diminishing the electoral prospects of his party". In a separate order addressing the producers of 'Udyama .

Modi sent 'his air force' to kill terrorists: Goa Minister

Days after UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath triggered a controversy by referring to the Indian Army as 'Modi ki sena' and was reprimanded by Election Commission, Goa's Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday while referring to the post-Pulwama air strikes said that Modi sent that "his air force" across the border to kill terrorists.

Punjab CM, AAP urge EC to revoke SIT IG's transfer

After Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh wrote to the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday objecting to transfer of Inspector General (IG) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh from the special investigation team (SIT) probing firing and sacrilege cases, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also asked the EC to review the decision.

Transfer of SIT officer will hamper probe into sacrilege cases, says Phoolkain letter to Punjab CM

Senior advocate H S Phoolka in a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said that the transfer of senior Special Investigation Team (SIT) officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh by the Election Commission (EC) will hamper the investigation into the sacrilege cases.Calling Singh's transfer "unfortunate," Phoolka said: "The investigation has reached a very crucial stage and is likely to be concluded soon. At this stage, his transfer is likely to adversely affect the investigation."Further adding that the action is "overstepping" on the part of the ECI, he said: "The officer, being in SIT, is not in any way connected to the election duty and has no direct role in the conduct of the elections.""The ECI has no power to ask for the transfer of an officer who is not connected with the election process in any way."Requesting Punjab government to send a letter informing the EC about the adverse effect of its decision on the investigation, Phoolka said, "Punjab government has ...

CEC urges people to vote in large numbers to 'strengthen democracy'

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday appealed to the people to vote in large numbers to strengthen democracy. The first phase of the Lok Sabha polls will be held on Thursday."Tomorrow is first of the seven-phase elections for the 17th Lok Sabha. Approximately 90 crore voters will exercise their franchise. We appeal to the people of India to vote fearlessly so that foundations of our democracy get stronger," Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said while talking to ANI here.Arora further said that the ECI has been preparing for this "grand-festival" for the last few months."We are certain that this grand festival will only succeed if the voting percentage is big. We have made efforts so that women, soldiers, disabled can vote comfortably," Arora said.Terming the voters as the foundation stones of any democracy, the Chief Election Commissioner said: "Democratic world holds great faith in Indian election process. I once again request all of you to vote and strengthen ..

Yogi Aditynath accuses Congress of doing politics of appeasement

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday accused the Congress party of doing the politics of appeasement.Addressing an election rally here, Chief Minister Aditynath said, "Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh once said that Muslims have the right over the country's resources, to this I want to ask the Congress that where should the rest of the population of the country go for resources."Hitting out at the grand old party, he said: "The politics of appeasement has led to problems like terrorism, separatism, and Naxalism...Congress and its allies have been responsible for these problems in the country."Campaigning for BJP candidate from Fatehpur Sikri, Raj Kumar Chahar, the UP Chief Minister said: "We do not do partiality and the Modi government works for all the sections of the society."Mocking at Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), he said: "The alliance parties have the habit of living in darkness so that they can commit theft. That is why there was ..

Congress-AAP alliance not possible: Sanjay Singh

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday questioned the Congress' logic of demanding three seats in New Delhi to forge an alliance with the party in the city-state. The party also said that "Congress-AAP" alliance is not possible."In Punjab, we have four MPs and 20 MLAs. Congress doesn't want to share seats there. The same situation is in Haryana, Goa, and Chandigarh," said Sanjay Singh, AAP MP, here on Wednesday while talking to ANI."In Delhi, where Congress doesn't have any MLA or MP, they're demanding three seats," said Singh, while asserting the AAP-Congress alliance is not possible in the national capital.Singh also accused the Congress of tacitly trying to help the BJP by not allying with the AAP."We have closed all doors. Congress is not in favour of the alliance. It seems they want to benefit BJP," he said.Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel met Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit at her residence.According to sources, they are believed to have discussed among ...

CBDT denies raiding premises of TDP MP Galla Jayadev

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Wednesday denied to have carried out searches in the premises of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) sitting MP from Guntur, Galla Jayadev."No premise of the MP candidate Galla Jayadev was searched," Y D Sharma, Commissioner of Income Tax and official spokesperson of CBDT said in a statement.He further said that the residence of Gurappa Naidu was searched by the Income Tax Department on Tuesday after information was received on a toll-free-number that cash was kept at his residence.According to the Income Tax Department, Rs 45.4 lakh cash was seized."An information had been received on toll-free-number that cash was kept at the residence of Gurappa Naidu which was to be used in the General Elections," the statement said."It was only at the time of recording his statement late in the night that he (Gurappa Naidu) revealed that he was giving services to Galla Jayadaev, MP, TDP also in his capacity as a cost accountant," the statement added.On Monday, it .

Irani urges Amethi voters to get rid of their 'missing MP'

Urging the voters of Amethi to get rid of their "missing MP," BJP leader and Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday said that India got independence years back."I would request the voters of Amethi to also get rid of their missing Member of Parliament," she said, while talking to ANI.Attacking Congress president Rahul Gandhi who represents Amethi in the Lok Sabha, she said: "People are saying that Rahul Gandhi won from Amethi and went to Waynad and Smriti Irani despite losing came back to Amethi. This has become a topic of discussion among the voters. "In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Smriti Irani had unsuccessfully contested against Congress president Rahul Gandhi from Amethi.She said that she will file her nomination papers in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday.Amethi goes to polls on May 6 in the 5th phase of the elections. Elections in UP are scheduled to be conducted in seven phases starting from April 11 and ending on May 19. The ...

Pb Governor declines invite to attend Queen's birthday celebration in Chandigarh

Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore has declined to attend the birthday celebration of the Queen of England, being organised here on Wednesday evening by the British Deputy High Commission, citing the 100th anniversary of the "emotive issue" of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13. Badnore, who was invited for the event as a special guest, wrote a letter this evening to British Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Ayre, citing his inability to attend the function. The governor, who is also the administrator of Union Territory Chandigarh, wrote, "Thank you very much for the invite as a special guest at Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday party this evening at your residence. Let me wish Her Majesty, a long life and good health." But, he added, he could not attend the event as it was being organised just days ahead of the 100th anniversary of the brutal massacre at 'Jallianwala Bagh' in Amritsar. The governor, however, mentioned the good relations that the two nations enjoy after India got ..

Cong, NC were behind Maharaja Hari Singh's banishment from JK: Karan Singh's son

Veteran Congress leader Karan Singh's son Ajatshatru Singh Wednesday triggered a controversy, accusing the party and the National Conference of being behind the banishment of his grandfather Maharaja Hari Singh, the last ruler of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, from there. A BJP MLC, Ajatshatru Singh made the allegation while campaigning for his party's candidate and Union minister Jitendra Singh, pitted against his (Ajatshtru's) elder brother Vikramaditya Singh on a Congress ticket from Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat. The younger Dogra dynasty scion hurled the charge, seeking to foil his father and elder brother's attempt to seek votes in the name of his grandfather, who, he said was forced to live in exile in erstwhile Bombay for 14 years till his death there. "Irrespective of what they say about Maharaja Hari Singh, the Congress and the National Conference conspired to banish the Maharaja from Jammu and Kashmir and forced him to live in exile in Bombay for fourteen years ...

Maharashtra Congress seeks CBI probe into UPL affairs

The Maharashtra Congress on Wednesday demanded a CBI probe into the affairs of the United Phosphorus Ltd (UPL) which it said is a "partner" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

AAP-Congress poll tieup hopes in Delhi die

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday rejected the Congress proposal for an alliance in Delhi, bringing to an end the long stressed negotiations for a tieup for the Lok Sabha elections.

Gargi Kaul appointed Secretary, Defence Finance

In a bureaucratic reshuffle, the Centre has appointed Gargi Kaul, a 1984-batch officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS), as Secretary, Defence Finance.

Amit Shah accuses Akshay Yadav, Shivpal Yadav of spreading rumours

Hitting out at SP-BSP alliance candidate Akshay Yadav and PSP(L) founder Shivpal Yadav, BJP chief Amit Shah Wednesday said the uncle-nephew (chacha-bhatija) duo were trying to spread rumours. Speaking at an election rally here, Amit Shah said, "Uncle-nephew are trying to spread rumours. Family-oriented (parivaarwaadi) parties thought Uttar Pradesh politics was their fiefdom. Sometimes they field their brother, sometimes their sons. They have not done any good to UP, and it is the BJP government, which has brought back the state on the path of development." Shah said the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samajwadi Party have not done any developmental work in the state. The BJP chief said, "The BJP does not work for a particular section of society, but for the entire country. In UP, the BJP will win 73 to 74 Lok Sabha seats." He also urged the Firozabad voters to defeat the uncle-nephew duo, and help the BJP win the polls.

Amethi, Raebareli will send Congress packing: UP dy CM

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya Wednesday said the Congress will have to "pack its bags" and leave Uttar Pradesh once the general election results are declared on May 23. The statement came hours after Congress president Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers from the Amethi parliamentary constituency. "The Congress is a party whose impact (in UP) has reduced to two seats as the SP-BSP-RLD alliance has decided not to contest on these two seats (Amethi and Raebareli)," Maurya told PTI. "The Congress too decided not to field candidates on seven Lok Sabha seats for senior leaders of SP-BSP-RLD alliance," he added. "They (Congress) have analysed their chances and this time, they will have to pack their bags and leave Amethi and Raebareli," he said. He exuded confidence that lotus (BJP's symbol) "will bloom" across the state, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will register a historic win.

Punjab Governor declines to join Queen's birthday celebrations

Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore on Wednesday declined an invite from the British High Commission here to attend the birthday celebrations of Queen Elizabeth-II, stating that the event was falling on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by the British forces on April 13, 1919.