Page 962 - Politics
60 farmers arrested for forcibly trying to enter CEO office
At least 60 farmers were Wednesday arrested for forcibly trying to enter the office of the CEO to lodge a complaint against political parties accusing them of neglecting farmers, a police officer said. The farmers agitating under the banner of Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) clashed with the police when the cops stopped them from meeting the Chief Electoral Officer, he said. The agitating farmers wanted to meet the CEO. They were told by police to a send a delegation to meet the CEO but all of them wanted to meet the CEO. However, police denied entry to all the agitators leading to the clash. "The NNKS rejected our suggestion to send a delegation to meet the CEO. They did not listen and demanded that all of them will meet the CEO. We had to arrest them. About 60 protesters have been arrested," said Bhubaneswar DCP, Anup Sahoo The NNKS has been agitating in Odisha demanding price, prestige and pension for farmers. They alleged that the leaders did not listen to ...
EC needs moral authority, it is losing respect: Ribeiro
Retired IPS officer Julio Ribeiro said Wednesday that the Election Commission of India (ECI) does not command the same respect it enjoyed earlier. The former Mumbai police commissioner is among 66 retired bureaucrats who have written to the President expressing displeasure about the functioning of the ECI. "I feel saddened that the Election Commission, an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for conducting elections, does not enjoy the respect which it did earlier," he told PTI here. Ribeiro, hailed for his role in containing the insurgency in Punjab in the 1980s, is known for candidly airing his views on social and political issues. "The EC (once) had good reputation not only in India but also world-over for conducing elections in a free and fair manner," he said. "Political parties respected the Election Commission then. The situation is different now," he said. "The EC needs moral authority and should be straight-forward so as to conduct the (poll) process .
J&K: Over 33 lakh to vote in first phase polling on Thursday
More than 33 lakh voters will decide the fate of 33 candidates in the twin parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and Baramulla which are going to polls on Thursday in the first phase of the seven-phased general elections. The separatists have called for a strike on Thursday to protest against the elections and the "NIA aggression" against Hurriyat Conference leaders and their kin. The high-pitch campaigning for the two constituencies ended Tuesday without any untoward incident. In Jammu, 20,05,730 voters including 10,40,876 males and 9,64,834 females will cast their votes at 2,740 polling stations to decide the political fortune of 24 candidates. The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Jugal Kishore is seeking re-election from the seat, while the Congress has fielded its senior vice president and former minister Raman Bhalla who is supported by the National Conference (NC). The constituency, spread over four districts of Jammu, Samba, Poonch and Rajouri and covering 20 assembly segments, .
Israel: PM Modi greets 'dear friend' Netanyahu on poll results
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated his "dear friend" Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu as unofficial results projected a clear win for the right-wing leader in Israel's April 9 elections for the 21st Knesset.This will be Netanyahu's record fifth term as the Prime Minister of Israel, once the official results are announced."My dear friend Bibi, Congratulations! You are a great friend of India, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to take our bilateral partnership to new heights," Prime Minister Modi tweeted on April 10.Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, the first to wish Netanyahu on his projected win, outlined the people's approval of Netanyahu's leadership."Congratulations to Prime Minister @netanyahu for an excellent showing in yesterday's national elections. While the official results have yet not been published, one matter is clear: you have - once again - gained the trust of the people of #Israel in record numbers," he tweeted."I am looking forward to ..
BJP portraying itself as angel and Opposition as devil: TMC leader Derek O'Brien
Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien on Wednesday said that in the guise of on-going raids the BJP is portraying itself as an 'angel' and the Opposition as a 'devil.'Earlier in the day, three TMC leaders including Derek met the Election Commission of India (ECI) and take up the issue of searches conducted at several places across the country.Speaking to media persons here after meeting the EC, Derek said: "The most corrupt party in the world is the BJP. Now they are targetting Opposition to show that they are angels, and we (Opposition) are devils.""But they are the most corrupt party in the world. The only thing the Prime Minister knows is how to cheat India.""It is sad that critics have no other options but to say that Nirvachan (election) Commission is becoming Nikkamma (inefficient) and Nirasha (sad) Commission," he said.Derek said: "We put forth 10 questions before the EC including the transfer of police officers at .
Omar Abdullah protests against highway closure for civilians
National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah on Wednesday led a protest march against the closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway for civilians on two days every week."Since the day the order was imposed, I have been constantly requesting the government to reconsider the order," he said.Protesters carrying red flags with National Conference's party symbol on it marched through the highway to show their dissent.According to the order levied by the Governor Satya Pal Malik, a stringent restriction was put on the movement of civilian traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on two days of every week. Only military convoys will pave through the highway until May 31.The restrictions were imposed after a CRPF convoy was attacked by a suicide car bomber on the National Highway in Pulwama district, killing 40 personnel on February 14. Terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) had claimed the responsibility for the attack..
Amarinder says PM Modi violating poll code by talking about Balakot air strikes
Punjab Chief Amarinder Singh on Wednesday filed a complaint before the Election Commission of India against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for violating the Model Code of Conduct by invoking the success of recent air strikes by Indian Air Force."Despite the EC directive, the Prime Minister continues to malign the memories of martyrs and exploit their sacrifices in a petty attempt to garner votes," said Singh in the letter to Election Commission."Mr Modi and his BJP have been audaciously using the Balakot air strikes and the martyrdom of the security forces to exploit the sentiments of the voters, particularly the new ones, as done by the Prime Minister in his Maharashtra speech. Then television campaign ads are also playing this theme with total disregard to the code of conduct, in utter contempt of the due process of election."Singh said this is not only shockingly disgraceful but a clear case of violation of the Model Code of Conduct, which constitutes the bedrock of free and fair ...
3-way contest in NE as local parties gain strength
The northeastern states are likely to see a tripartite battle in these elections, with the local parties gaining strength in the erstwhile Congress bastion on local issues and sentiments, even as the BJP makes inroads there, say political experts.
Modi trying to create two Indias : Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday sharpened his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of trying to create two Indias - one for his "friends" like Nirav Modi and Anil Ambani and another for poor farmers of the country. Gandhi said that if Congress is voted to power, he will ensure investigation into the Rafale scam and that the guilty including Prime Minister Narendra Modi are put behind bars. Hitting out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for forging an alliance with BJP in the past, Gandhi rubbished her allegations against the Congress. "It is the Congress which is fighting tooth and nail against BJP in the coutry," he told an election rallly here in north Bengal. Alleging that the "facial expression" of Narendra Modi has changed, Gandhi said "He can't speak properly at various rallies. This is because he is afraid that because of Congress there might be an investigation into the Rafale scam and he might go to jail," Gandhi ...
JJP seeks tie-up with 'like-minded outfits': Dushyant Chautala
Jannayak Janata Party leader Dushyant Chautala Wednesday said his party is in the process of forging an alliance with "like-minded outfits" to contest the Lok Sabha polls and an announcement in this regard will be made within four days. The Hisar MP said a three-member panel of JJP that includes K C Bangar, S S Kadian and state unit chief Nishan Singh has prepared a report which will be discussed with party patron Ajay Chautala, who will take a final call on the tie-up issue. He indicated that the Aam Aadmi Party could be onboard among the like-minded parties, while some smaller outfits, who may not put up candidates to fight the Lok Sabha polls, could also be among those to extend support to the JJP. Dushyant Chautala said only one member from his family will be contesting the general election. His mother Naina Chautala is a sitting MLA from Haryana, brother Digvijay Chautala recently fought the Jind bypoll and finished first runner up, while father Ajay Chautala, a former MP, is ...
Gargi Kaul appointed Defence Finance Secretary
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.
Stage set for first phase of Lok Sabha poll in Tripura
The stage is set for over 13 lakh voters to exercise their franchise for the West Tripura Lok Sabha seat which would go to the polls on Thursday. Chief Electoral Officer, Sriram Taranikanti said, elections would begin at 7 am and would continue till 5 pm and adequate security arrangements have been made. The CEO said 13,47,381 voters including 6,82,044 male and 6,65,327 female voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 1679 polling stations of the constituency. "Adequate security measures have been taken, 99 per cent voters have received their voter slips, 30 polling stations would be fully manned by women and a total of 3030 postal ballots have been cast so far for the West Tripura parliamentary constituency," Taranikanti told reporters. Altogether, 13 candidates including BJP's Pratima Bhowmick, CPI(M) nominee Shankar Prasad Datta and Subal Bhowmick of the Congress are in the fray. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and CPI(M) general .
Taliban reject invitation to Afghan peace assembly
The Taliban on Wednesday rejected the Afghan government's invitation for the April 29 Loya Jirga on peace, calling it a "conspiracy by the government of President Ashraf Ghani to prolong its stay in power".
EC order restraining Modi biopic applies to NaMo TV, which cannot be aired during MCC: Official
The Election Commission order banning the screening of the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi also applies to NaMo TV, which also cannot be aired during the poll period, a senior official of the poll panel said on Wednesday. The official referred to a paragraph in the order which said,"that any poster or publicity material concerning any such certified content, which either depicts a candidate (including prospective) for the furtherance (or purported to further) of electoral prospects, directly or indirectly, shall not be put on display in electronic media in the area where MCC is in force." The EC has banned the release of the Modi biopic, saying any such film that subserves purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in the electronic media.
Sidhu slams Centre for stalling revamping of Jallianwala Bagh
Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Wednesday lashed out at the BJP led Centre over its "failure" to release the requisite funds for revamping Jallianwala Bagh ahead of the centenary of the massacre on April 13 that took place during the British regime. The tourism and cultural affairs minister of Punjab also impressed upon chief minister Amarinder Singh to write to the Centre and British government seeking the apology of the Prime Minister of Britain for the Jallianwala Bagh incident. "On April 13, 2019, as we join our nation in paying tribute to the martyrs and observe the 100th anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The institutional ignorance and unforgiving silence of the Government of India haunts my mind," Sidhu said in his letter to the CM. "Jallianwala Bagh is a symbol of national integration and inspires the idea of India but now when the world is watching, the Union Government failed to seize the moment. Thus, it has fallen upon us to rise to the occasion," he ...
Anti-incumbency, caste, corruption key factors in LS, Assembly
A strong anti-incumbency, caste and corruption are the major factors that could determine the outcome of the elections to Lok Sabha and the state Assembly in Andhra Pradesh as over 3.93 crore voters get to exercise their franchise on Thursday. Polling for all 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats would be held in one go from 7 AM to 6 PM in the state. For the 175 Assembly seats, 2,118 candidates and for the 25 Lok Sabha seats 319 contestants are in the fray. Telugu Desam Party president and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would be seeking election to the Assembly for the ninth time from Kuppam constituency in his native Chittoor district, while his son Nara Lokesh is making his electoral debut this time from the backward classes-dominated Mangalagiri segment in the capital region, Amaravati. Leader of Opposition and YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy an aspirant for the Chief Minister's post is fighting his second Assembly election from his family's ...
Modi congratulates Netanyahu who looks set for another term as Israel PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday congratulated his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu who appears to be headed towards a victory in parliamentary polls in his country. Calling Netanyahu a "great friend of India", Modi said he would like to take the bilateral ties to newer heights with his Israeli friend. "My dear friend Bibi, Congratulations! You are a great friend of India, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to take our bilateral partnership to new heights," Modi tweeted, tagging Netanyahu. The two prime ministers share a personal rapport. In 2017, Modi became the first Indian PM to visit Israel, where Netanyahu received him at the airport. Netanyahu appeared to be headed towards a historic fifth term as Israel's Prime Minister on Wednesday, with close-to-complete unofficial election results giving his right-wing Likud and other nationalist and religious parties a solid majority in parliament.
Modi shines because of make-up, taunts Karnataka CM
In a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said he applies "make-up" to keep his face "shining"
BJP MP resigns from party, to contest as Independent
Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Ranchi Lok Sabha seat Ramtahal Chaudhary Wednesday resigned from the party after he was denied a ticket to contest for a sixth time from the constituency. Chaudhary told a news conference that he would contest as an Independent candidate from the Ranchi Lok Sabha seat. "I have resigned from the partys primary membership and sent the letter to Jharkhand unit president Laxman Gilua. I will file nomination papers as Independent candidate from Ranchi on April 16," Chaudhary said. His announcement comes days after the BJP announced Jharkhand Khadi Gramodyog Board Chairman Sanjay Seth as its nominee from Ranchi, where elections will be held on May 6. Chaudhary, a five-time BJP MP said he was not even consulted by the party before the announcement of the candidate from Ranchi.
Modi slams Cong for 'poll scam', sedition law repeal promise
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday accused the Congress of a "Tughlaq Road election scam" where money meant for poor, pregnant women was looted from people. At a poll rally, Modi also claimed that the Nehru- Gandhi family targeted leaders from Gujarat like Sardar Patel and Morarji Desai and was now targeting a 'chaiwala' like him. Notably, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's residence as an MP is at 1, Tughlaq Road in New Delhi, while Congress president Rahul Gandhi's residence as an MP is 12, Tughlak Lane in the national capital. The Income Tax Department recently conducted raids on close aides of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath and others in four states on Sunday. The CBDT, that frames policy for the I-T department, had said the department has 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 .