Page 967 - Politics
LS polls: Rahul Gandhi files nomination from Amethi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections from the Gandhi bastion of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by his mother Sonia Gandhi, sister Priyanka Gandhi and brother-in-law Robert Vadra.For the second consecutive time, Rahul will contest against Union Textile Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani from Amethi. The District Collector's office was decorated with flowers for Rahul's arrival.Prior to filing his nomination accompanied by a throng of Congress workers, Rahul Gandhi held a road show here. He was accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra alongwith their children Raihan and Miraya.This comes after Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Wayanad in Kerala on April 4, a move that set off a controversy with the ruling BJP alleging he had done so because he was unsure of his win from Amethi.The Congress chief filed his nomination papers at the district collectorate in Kalpetta in Wayanad. He was ..
Congress only comes to power to loot: PM Modi
Calling the Congress a party of corrupt people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the party only comes to power to loot money while referring to the Income Tax (IT) department raids across the country."A new scandal has been linked to Congress scandals, and with proof. That is the 'Tughlaq Road Chunavi Ghotala'. Congress has snatched food away from poor children and is feeding its own leaders. Congress is looting money designated for pregnant women," the Prime Minister said while addressing an election rally here."People have seen in the media that stacks of notes are being recovered from people related to the Congress. The party first created Karnataka as its ATM, now Madhya Pradesh has become the Congress ATM. And maybe fate is same in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh as well. Congress only comes to power to loot money," he said.Referring to IT raids at the residence of Praveen Kakkar, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Modi said, ..
Electoral Bonds: Centre favours anonymity, but EC against
The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that secrecy of information through electoral bonds is essential to curb black money in political funding.
PM biopic: SC declines urgent hearing of plea challenging Bombay HC order
The Supreme Court has declined urgent hearing of an appeal filed against the Bombay High Court order which had refused to interfere with the release of the Vivek Oberoi-starrer biographical drama on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.A Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi while declining urgent hearing on the plea said, "We have better things to do."The plea was mentioned before the Bench by lawyer Brijesh Kumar appearing for petitioner Satish Gaikwad.Gaikwad is a Pune resident and national president of the Republican Party of India. The appeal in the apex court demanded an immediate stay on the release of the movie.Gaikwad said that if the movie is permitted to be released for public viewing, it would violate the model code of conduct imposed by the Election Commission of India ahead of Lok Sabha election.The plea also questioned the timing of the movie's release saying if released, it was likely to earn the Prime Minister electoral mileage.The biopic was initially scheduled for ...
Govt compromised on national security: Left Parties on Rafale
The Left parties Wednesday hailed the decision of the Supreme Court allowing leaked documents to be relied upon by petitioners seeking review of the Rafale judgement and alleged that Narendra Modi government was compromising on national security. Continuing his attack on the ruling party, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said that through the Rafale fighter jet deal with France, the government "promoted cronyism". "Modi and his govt have compromised national security for corruption and cronyism in an important defence deal. "They tried to evade accountability, denied a JPC, hid price from CAG, tried to first mislead, then stall any hearing in Supreme Court. Important that culprits are booked," he tweeted. In a setback to the Modi-led government at the Centre a day ahead of the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, the Supreme Court Wednesday allowed leaked documents to be relied upon by petitioners seeking review of its Rafale judgement and dismissed the government's ...
NIA questions Hurriyat's Mirwaiz for 3rd day
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) questioned Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq for a third consecutive day on Wednesday in connection with a terror funding case, an official said.
Modi slams Oppn, but doesn't give account of his govt: Pawar
NCP chief Sharad Pawar has hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he criticises the opposition parties in his every speech, but never informs what his government has done for the country in last five years. Addressing a rally at Ulhasnagar here on Tuesday night to campaign for his party candidate, Babaji Patil, from Kalyan Lok Sabha seat of Maharashtra, he also targeted Modi over the controversial Rafale jet deal. "In every speech, Modi criticises the NCP and Congress, but never tells what the BJP and Shiv Sena have done during the last five years," Pawar said. Lashing out at prime minister's criticism of the NCP, he said, "Everyone knows what Modi has done to his family and now he is poking his nose into our family affairs." He said Modi criticises Jawaharlal Nehru, but it was the former prime minister who brought industries to the country after Independence. Pawar also said that late prime minister Indira Gandhi took Pakistan to task and Rajiv Gandhi brought in
SC-RAFALE-CHRONOLOGY
Following is the chronology of events in which the Supreme Court Wednesday allowed leaked documents to be relied upon by petitioners seeking review of its Rafale judgment and dismissed the government's preliminary objections claiming "privilege" over them: -Dec 30, 2002: Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP) adopted to streamline procurement. -Aug 28, 2007: Ministry of Defence issues Request for Proposal for procurement of 126 MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) fighters. -Sep 4, 2008: Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance group incorporates Reliance Aerospace Technologies Ltd (RATL). -May 2011: Air Force shortlists Rafale and Eurofighter jets. -Jan 30, 2012: Dassault Aviation's Rafale aircraft comes up with the lowest bid. -Mar 13, 2014: Work Share agreement signed between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Dassault Aviation under which they were responsible for 70 per cent and 30 per cent of the work, respectively, for 108 aircraft. -Aug 8, 2014: Then defence minister Arun Jaitley ...
'M' factor in Assam steers poll winds
The Muslim factor can be seen across many of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam and will play a significant role in steering the poll winds.
BJP gears up for Phase 2,3 poll campaigning
After campaigning for the first phase of polling ended on Tuesday evening, the BJP is gearing up to show its strength in campaigning for the second and third phase of Lok Sabha elections, which are scheduled for April 18 and April 23.
Rahul Gandhi files nomination from Amethi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday filed his nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi Lok Sabha constituency which goes to the polls in the fifth phase on May 6.
Pondy CM rejects AINRC's charge over implementation of welfare
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy Wednesday rejected as "baseless and misleading," the allegations of opposition parties, including the AINRC, that the Congress government here has not implemented welfare schemes since last three years. Narayanasamy, who was campaigning in Uppalam and Bussy segments here in support of Congress nominee V Vaithilingam, dubbed the alliance comprising BJP, AINRC and AIADMK as an 'opportunistic' combine that was spreading "wrong and baseless" information against his government. Listing the schemes implemented in the Union Territory, he said as a result of the "sustained fight" with the Centre, the territorial government was able to get the smart city project involving an expenditure of Rs 1850 crores, and a drinking water scheme at an outlay of Rs 500 crores among others. "When such important projects were brought to Puducherry, the AINRC and its ally the AIADMK have been spreading wrong and misleading propaganda against the ...
Delhi court sends Yasin Malik to NIA custody till Apr 22 in terror funding case
A Delhi court Wednesday sent JKLF chief Yasin Malik to NIA custody till April 22 after the agency sought his custodial interrogation in connection with a case related to funding of separatists and terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir. Malik was produced before special judge Rakesh Syal where the National Investigation Agency arrested him inside the courtroom and sought 15-day custodial interrogation. The proceedings in the case were heard in-camera. He was shifted to Delhi's Tihar Jail on Tuesday after the NIA secured his production remand in connection with the terror funding case. Malik will be facing questions from the NIA related to funding of his organisation. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has reserved its judgment on a plea of the CBI for reopening three-decade-old cases in which Malik was an accused. The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief is facing charges of kidnapping and murder for being allegedly involved in abducting Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of then Union Home ...
For once, political battle in Himachal sans titans
The battle in the Himachal Pradesh political arena is without the titans this time.
Omar on 'dharna' against civilian traffic ban on highway
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) Vice-President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday sat on a 'dharna' (sit-in) on the national highway against the ban on civilian traffic on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Rahul's road show in Amethi before filing papers
Flanked by his family members -- sister, brother-in-law and even nephew and niece -- Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday kicked-off his road show here before filing his nomination papers for Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
Rahul files nomination from Amethi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections from this constituency with his entire family looking on. His mother Sonia Gandhi, sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and brother-in-law Robert Vadra were with him in the Collectorate when he filed his papers. The three-term MP will take on Union minister and BJP candidate Smriti Irani in what is seen as a direct contest with the SP-BSP-RLD alliance taking the decision to not filed any candidate from the constituency, seen as a Congress bastion. Rahul Gandhi reached the Collectorate to file his papers after a roadshow through the town. It was the Gandhi family's show of strength with the Congress president flanked by his sister, brother-in-law and their two children in the open truck. Surging crowds of Congress supporters walked along as the truck made its way to the Collectorate. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was not part of the roadshow but reached the Collectorate to back her son. Rahul Gandhi is
EC says Telangana CM prima facie violated model code by making communal remarks
The Election Commission has issued a show cause notice to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, finding him prima facie guilty of allegedly passing derogatory remarks against Hindus while addressing an election rally in Karimnagar last month. Now, he has been asked to furnish his reply by April 12 evening, failing which the Commission will take a decision "without any further reference to you". The Commission said VHP state president M Rama Raju had filed a compliant which claimed that the Telangana Rashtra Samathi chief "tried to secure votes by passing derogatory remarks against Hindus while addressing an election rally at Karimnagar on March 17." The Commission has produced his remarks in Telugu but did not give English translation of the same. "... the Commission is, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the aforesaid statement which has the potential of disturbing harmony and aggravating existing differences between social and religious communities, and appealing to
Delhi HC sends PIL seeking ban on Farooq, Omar, Mehbooba from LS polls to another bench
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sent a plea seeking direction to Election Commission of India (ECI) to ban Jammu and Kashmir politicians Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti from participating in the Lok Sabha elections to another bench for hearing on April 12.The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed on April 8 seeking a ban for the three leaders who have been former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, for their "seditious and communal" statements against the Constitution.The petition filed by an advocate alleged that the statements given by the three leaders were against the Constitution, adding that the court or the ECI should bar or impose conditions on their entry into the general elections.Seven-phase Lok Sabha polls are set to begin on April 11 and will go on till May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Shiv Sena endorses BJP manifesto on Article 370, Ram temple
Days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its election manifesto, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday fully endorsed BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' by giving it "200 out of 100 marks" for incorporating all their long-held demands, including the abrogation of Article 370 and building of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna' stated: "Though Prime Minister Modi has given importance to the poor and farmers in the manifesto, he is more concerned about building Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and abrogation of Article 370."Endorsing the BJP line in the manifesto, Shiv Sena stressed in its editorial that the Centre must take substantial steps to strike down Article 370 and pay homage to the people who sacrificed their lives for the same."If Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah really want to fulfil the dreams of the people struggling for independence then they must first abrogate (strike down) Article 370. It is because of this article that the rules and regulations imposed in other states in .