Page 963 - Politics
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 .
Chhattisgarh CM pays tribute to BJP leader, 4 others killed in Naxal attack
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday paid tributes to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Bheema Mandavi, his driver and three personal security officers, who lost their lives in Naxal attack on Tuesday.The mortal remains of Mandavi were brought to the BJP's office in Dantewada.On Tuesday, Naxals attacked the convoy in which Mandavi was travelling and killed all five including his driver and three PSOs.Baghel had condemned the attack but denied any security failure."Had Bheema Mandavi listened to the police, he would be alive now. But he did not heed their advice sent the DRG force back. He went out without giving prior information," the Chief Minister said on Tuesday.
Chhattisgarh CM pays tribute to BJP leader, 4 others killed in Naxal attack
On Tuesday, Naxals attacked the convoy in which Mandavi was travelling and killed all five including his driver and three PSOs
'Two-stage assembly by-elections advantage for AIADMK'
The two-stage by-elections for 22 vacant assembly seats in Tamil Nadu is advantageous for the ruling AIADMK as the pie has grown bigger now for a safe bite, while it is going to be an acid test for DMK President M.K. Stalin, political analysts said.
Congress-NCP brace for big outbound defectors
As the first phase of polling gets underway in Maharashtra's seven Lok Sabha constituencies, the opposition Congress and NCP brace for anticipated departure of two top sulking leaders to the ruling BJP, sources said here on Wednesday.
AP CM stages protest outside CEO's office, says EC actions 'tyrannical, undemocratic'
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu staged a sit-in protest outside the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) block at the Secretariat here on Wednesday, protesting the "tyrannical, undemocratic and arbitrary actions" of the Election Commission (EC) with regard to transfer of several officials. Earlier, Naidu met CEO Gopal Krishna Dwivedi and submitted a memorandum to him, accusing the EC of acting "on behalf of the YSR Congress under the guidance of the BJP". The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief also wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner on the issue. He denounced the "autocratic and partisan attitude" of the EC in handling election-related matters pertaining to the state. "It is surprising that the EC is taking partisan and hasty steps to harass and intimidate government officials with a view to trigger panic in their minds for carrying out legitimate responsibilities," Naidu alleged, referring to the transfer of the state chief secretary, director general (DG) intelligence
'Madam Secretary' maker to stick to world of politics
"Madam Secretary" creator Barbara Hall says telling a political story in the present "highly charged atmosphere," in the US comes with challenges, but she is determined to build on that world and help everyone be part of the larger debate.
China calls Taiwan flight a 'routine exercise'
China on Wednesday derided "wild talk" from Taiwan's president as it defended a flight by its fighter jets across the traditionally respected maritime line dividing the island from the mainland last month as a routine exercise. The rare incursion of two J-11 fighter jets over the "median line" separating the self-ruled island from China drew condemnation from Taipei at the end of March, which called the incident "intentional, reckless and provocative". Citing remarks by Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang at a press briefing Wednesday, state-run China Daily said the fly-by was part of a planned routine exercise by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). "Protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity has been the sacred duty of the PLA, and it is in the interest of people from both sides of the straits," he said. China has significantly stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan since Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, including ...
Barmer's BSP candidate's nomination rejected, he plans to move court
The nomination of BSP candidate from Barmer Pankaj Choudhary, an IPS officer who was dismissed form the service last month, was rejected Wednesday for lack of requisite documents, an election official said. Choudhary said he has decided to challenge the rejection in the high court. District Election Officer Himanshu Gupta said, "The nomination of BSP candidate Pankaj Choudhary was rejected as it lacked important documents that needed to be enclosed." Reacting to the development, the 44-year-old alleged his nomination was rejected under a "political conspiracy". "I will challenge the decision in the Rajasthan High Court." Choudhary, who was sacked from the Indian Police Service on march 6 for violating service rules, was fielded by the Mayawati-led party. He filed his nomination papers on April 8. He said that under section 9 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, he had to submit to the election officer a certificate issued by the Election Commission that he was not dismissed .
J&K national highway not closed for civilians: MHA
The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday said some individuals were "deliberately" spreading "mischievous disinformation" about recently imposed traffic curbs on the national highway in J&K, claiming the highway has been closed for civilians.
BJP counting on Balakot, Cong on Rafale as U'khand goes to polls on Thursday
An interesting battle is on the cards in the five Lok Sabha seats of Uttarakhand going to polls in the first phase on Thursday with the BJP banking on the success of Balakot air strikes to garner votes and the Congress betting on the alleged Rafale scam to dent the prospects of the saffron party. As in the past elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are once again locked in straight contests on all the five seats which have been going en bloc to either of them alternately. In 2009, the Congress had won all the seats while the BJP wrested them in 2014. The saffron party is confident of retaining its 5-0 tally while the Congress is making every effort to stage a comeback in the hill-state after the 2017 assembly poll rout when the BJP won 57 of the 70 seats to storm to power. The Congress and the BJP have emerged as the dominant parties in Uttarakhand in all the general elections held since the state's creation except once in 2004 when Samajwadi Party's Rajendra ...
Chhattisgarh CM pays tribute to BJP leader Bhupesh Baghel, 4 others killed in Naxal attack
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday paid tributes to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Bheema Mandavi, his driver and three personal security officers, who lost their lives in Naxal attack on Tuesday.The mortal remains of Mandavi were brought to the BJP's office in Dantewada.On Tuesday, Naxals attacked the convoy in which Mandavi was travelling and killed all five including his driver and three PSOs.Baghel had condemned the attack but denied any security failure."Had Bheema Mandavi listened to the police, he would be alive now. But he did not heed their advice sent the DRG force back. He went out without giving prior information," the Chief Minister said on Tuesday.
2019 elections: Six former bureaucrats are in fray in Orissa
After completing their innings in civil administration, six former bureaucrats have now decided to contest elections in the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha.Bhubaneswar parliamentary constituency is witnessing a fight between two former bureaucrats, an IAS and an IPS. While Aparajita Sarangi, an IAS officer who opted for voluntary retirement scheme, is contesting on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has fielded former Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik for the Lok Sabha seat.The fight between former IAS and IPS officers is going to be interesting with the BJP and the BJD leaving no stone unturned to win the crucial constituency, political analysts say.The BJP has put its faith in former CRPF Director General and Odisha DGP Prakash Mishra for Cuttack parliamentary seat. He will take on BJD's five-time MP Bhartruhari Mahtab and Panchanan Kanungo of the Congress.Nalini Kanta Pradhan, also a retired bureaucrat, has been nominated as BJD's ..
Mufti, Omar take a jibe at Modi supporters over Pak PM's remarks
Reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks that there might be a better chance of peace talks with India if his counterpart Narendra Modi's party came back to power, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti took a jibe at the confusion Modi supporters might be facing over Khan's comments."Bhakts scratching their heads & at wit ends wondering if they should praise Imran Khan or not," Mufti tweeted.According to local media reports, Prime Minister Khan on Tuesday said there might be a better chance of peace talks with India if PM Modi wins the upcoming elections. He reportedly said that if the next Indian government were to be led by the Congress party, it might be too scared to seek a settlement with Pakistan over Kashmir, fearing a backlash from the right wing."Perhaps if the BJP - a right-wing party -- wins, some kind of settlement on Kashmir could be reached," Khan was quoted as saying."I never thought I would see what is happening in India right ...
IT raids on TDP MP's aide evokes strong protest
The Income Tax officials have raided the residence of an aide of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) candidate and outgoing MP from Guntur Galla Jayadev, evoking strong protest from the party.
Rafale deal: BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of contempt of court
Accusing Congress president Rahul Gandhi of gross contempt of court, the BJP on Wednesday said he attributed to the Supreme Court what it had never said in its order on the Rafale deal. Addressing a press conference, senior party leader and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "The Congress president probably doesn't read even half a paragraph of the court's order, but here, by saying that the court has has said 'chowkidaar chor hai', it is verging on contempt of court." The president of a party which has been in power for so many years has shown his frustration by attributing words to the apex which were not uttered, she said. The minister added that the court order was limited to whether it should consider the documents the government said were illegally obtained by petitioners. Taking a potshot at Gandhi, she said he is out on bail and was accompanied at his nomination filing in Amethi by "the family" -- as described Christen Michel, an alleged middlemen in VVIP chopper ...
Jaitley slams Oppn for alleging political vendetta in MP, Karnataka raids
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has hit out at the Opposition for alleging political vendetta behind Income Tax (IT) raids, claiming that an "institutional mechanism" of corruption prevails in Madhya Pradesh and funds were round-tripped for a "political purpose" in Karnataka."In Madhya Pradesh, an institutional mechanism has been created where money that is meant for development and social welfare of the weaker sections are now being channelled into politics," Jaitley wrote in his blog on Tuesday.The minister defended the IT department's actions, saying that the money meant for public welfare was being used for a "political purpose" in Karnataka where Congress and JD(S) are in power.He said, "In the public space evidence has come in relation to Karnataka where allocations made for public welfare to the Public Works Departments were being round-tripped by engineers for a political purpose."Central agencies have raided several places linked to associates of Opposition party leaders ...
Yasin Malik sent to NIA remand till April 22 in connection with terror funding case
Kashmiri Separatist leader Yasin Malik has been arrested by National Investigative Agency (NIA) in connection with 2017 terror funding and conspiracy case here on Wednesday.The NIA court has sent him to NIA remand till April 22.Malik was brought here on Tuesday evening from Jammu jail after the NIA secured a production warrant against him in connection with a terror and separatism funding case in Jammu and Kashmir.Last month, the central government had banned his organization Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), saying the outfit is actively engaged in inciting secession and is illegally funnelling funds for fomenting terrorism.
India's belligerence poses threat to regional stability: Pak FM Qureshi
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that the military aggression displayed by India against Pakistan is a clear threat to stability in the region.During an interview to Radio Pakistan, Qureshi noted that as a peace-loving country, Pakistan is "committed to peaceful and normal relations in its neighbourhood." However, he added that Pakistan is capable to frustrate any 'misadventure', apparently referring to India."Our conduct as a nuclear weapon state will continue to be defined by restraint and responsibility," Qureshi said adding Pakistan will maintain credible minimum deterrence to ensure its national security.Qureshi on Sunday had alleged that Pakistan has reliable intelligence inputs India "is hatching a new plot and may resort to military aggression" against the country between April 16 and 20."An incident similar to Pulwama could recur in the occupied Kashmir Valley," Ary News quoted him as claiming, referring to the Jaish-e-Mohammed perpetrated ...
Oppn steps up attack on govt after SC order in Rafale case
Opposition party leaders on Wednesday sharpened their attack on the government, hours after the Supreme Court rejected the Centre's objections on the admissibility of "leaked documents" in the Rafale case.Reacting to the order of the apex court, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati criticised the Modi-led government for "hiding the misdemeanor".Mayawati tweeted: "PM Modi must apologise to the people of the country and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman must resign from the post."General secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Sitaram Yechury also echoed similar sentiments."Modi and his govt have compromised national security for corruption & cronyism in an important defence deal. They tried to evade accountability, denied a JPC, hid price from CAG, tried to first mislead, and then stall any hearing in Supreme Court," Yechury tweeted.Hitting out at the incumbent government for "falsely" claiming that they have a "clean chit" in the matter, Yechury said that the ..