Page 968 - Politics
Gurjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla joins BJP
Gurjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti leader Kirori Singh Bainsla, who led the protest across Rajasthan demanding reservation for Gurjars, on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here.
Thakor Sena asks Alpesh to resign from Congress
The Gujarat Kshatriya Thakor Sena, an outfit floated by Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor, has decided to severe its ties with the grand old party and asked the legislator to resign from it and clear his stand within 24 hours. Speculations were rife that Thakor may quit the Congress as he was unhappy with the local party leadership. Though he was keen to contest from Patan Lok Sabha seat, the Congress chose former MP Jagdish Thakor over him. The party also ignored Thakor Sena's demand for ticket to a member of the outfit from Sabarkantha Lok Sabha seat. "The Thakor Sena, during the core committee meeting here late Tuesday night, passed a resolution to severe ties with the Congress. We have not consulted Alpesh Thakor before taking this decision," Jagat Thakor, a member of the outfit, told reporters here. "After the meet, we told him to make his stand clear within 24 hours. If he wants to remain with the Congress, then he has to leave the Thakor Sena. And if he wants to be with us, then he ...
Israel: Netanyahu poised to form govt for 5th consecutive term
Israel's right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday appeared to secure a clear majority for the fifth time in the Parliament.The elections for the 21st Knesset or the National Legislature was viewed as a closely fought battle between Netanyahu's Likud Party and opposition candidate Benny Gantz's Blue and White party.Citing preliminary results of the elections, The Times of Israel confirmed that with 97 per cent of the votes counted, neither of the candidates' parties had captured a ruling majority, but Netanyahu was clearly in a strong position to form a coalition government with other right-wing factions that have backed him.More than 6.3 million voters exercised their franchise to elect members of 120-seat Knesset on Tuesday in 10,000 polling stations across the country.Despite reeling under a series of corruption allegations, Netanyahu is seeking a fifth term in office. If he wins, he would become Israel's longest-serving leader surpassing founding father David ...
Stage set for polling in all 17 LS constituencies in T'gana
The stage is set for polling in all 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Telangana on Thursday with elaborate arrangements being made to ensure a free and fair poll. Having swept the Assembly polls held in December last, the ruling TRS is hoping for an encore in the company of AIMIM while the opposition Congress and BJP appear to be focussed on winning select number of seats. As many as 443 candidates (418 male and 25 female) candidates are in the fray in the 17 constituencies. Over 2.97 crore voters, including 1504 transgenders, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the state, which has a total of 34,604 polling stations. Polling would be held from 7 AM to 4 PM in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-effected Assembly segments under five parliamentary constituencies, and from 7 AM to 5 PM in all other Lok Sabha constituencies. Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency is a special case in this parliamentary election as 185 candidates, including more than 170 farmers, are in the ...
Rafale judgment proves Modi mislead SC: Kejriwal
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the Supreme Court's Rafale judgment shows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi mislead the apex court over the issue.
Modi accuses Cong of election scam, looting money of poor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday accused the Congress of a "Tughlaq road election scam" where money meant for poor, pregnant women was looted from people. Notably, Congress president Rahul Gandhi's official residence is on the Tughlaq Road in New Delhi. 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 Road, home to many VIPs. Addressing a poll rally at Junagadh in Gujarat, PM Modi took a swipe at the Congress, saying it is known by many names as far as scams are concerned. "Now it has got a new name, but with proofs. The Congress is indulging in a 'Tughlaq Road Chunavi ghotala', where money ...
Development overshadows Gorkhaland demand in Darjeeling
The picturesque Darjeeling hills in West Bengal is gearing for a pitched battle between two Gorkhas in the Lok Sabha elections, as development and restoration of democracy top the poll planks, relegating the long-standing demand for a separate Gorkhaland. For the first time in three decades, the call for a separate Gorkhaland state is not a poll issue in the hills, with parties, including the indigenous GJM and GNLF, stressing on minimum wages for tea workers, potable water, electricity, education and employment. The Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency, which goes to polls on April 18, is set to witness a keenly-fought contest between the two warring factions of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) -- one led by its supremo Bimal Gurung and his one-time protege Binay Tamang. Gurung is supporting BJP's Raju Singh Bisht, while Tamang is in favour of TMC's Amar Singh Rai. The saffron party also has the support of another prominent hill party, the Gorkha National Liberation Front
Rafale: SC rejects Centre's plea, to hear on merit
The Supreme Court in an unanimous judgment on Wednesday rejected the preliminary objections raised by the central government, as a result the Rafale review petitions will now be heard on merits. The court will look into the documents published.
Large parts of Venezuela hit by new blackout
A new blackout across large parts of crisis-hit Venezuela, including the capital Caracas, forced many to spend another night in the dark on Tuesday. The electricity shortage -- the biggest in a week -- hit a large section of the capital, with social media posts from residents across the country suggesting significant areas in at least 20 of the 23 states of Venezuela were also affected. No reason for the blackout was immediately given by the government or the state electricity company Corpoelec. Opposition leader Juan Guaido -- whose claim to be interim president is supported by around 50 nations -- had previously called for protests against public service failures to be held Wednesday. Power cuts have occurred sporadically since the massive blackout of March 7 left the country in the dark for five days, with electricity being rationed outside of Caracas. Water supplies have also been interrupted, along with transport and communications, forcing many people to trim their work days to .
Israel's Netanyahu appears headed toward 5th term as PM
Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to be headed toward 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. The outcome affirmed Israel's continued tilt to the right and further dimmed hopes of a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Re-election will also give Netanyahu an important boost as he braces for the likelihood of criminal charges in a series of corruption scandals. With 97.4% of the vote counted, Likud and its traditional political allies were in command of a 65-55 majority in parliament. A couple of small parties were still teetering along the electoral threshold and fighting for their survival, so the final makeup of the next parliament has yet to be decided. In any case, the country now faces what could be weeks of political negotiations over the composition of a ruling coalition. But under nearly .
Gateway to west UP, Saharanpur in triangular fight
The gateway to western Uttar Pradesh, Saharanpur will see a cracker of a contest in the Lok Sabha polls with all the three main contenders - BJP, SP-BSP-RLD and Congress - focusing on the seat and putting up a strong fight.
LS polls: Rahul Gandhi to file his nomination from Amethi today, Vadra wishes him luck
Congress president Rahul Gandhi is set to file his nomination from Amethi parliamentary constituency today.This comes after his decision to contest from Wayanad in Kerala set off a controversy.Rahul's brother-in-law and businessman Robert Vadra, who is also in Amethi, took to Facebook and wrote, "My best wishes to Rahul for a successful, productive and a healthy future, to create the change INDIA requires. Always in your support."Ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit, the District Collector office has been decorated with flowers.Rahul will be for the second consecutive time contest against Union Textile Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani from Amethi.Irani on Tuesday took a jibe at Vadra while downplaying his campaigning for Congress in Amethi and asserted that farmers will run a parallel campaign during his stay to save their lands from him.Speaking to ANI, Irani said, "Robert Vadra's campaign will definitely benefit BJP. Wherever Vadra will go, the farmers will come out to save their land.
Omar taunts Modi, says Imran Khan has endorsed his victory
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Vice-President of the National Conference (NC), Omar Abdullah, said on Wednesday that Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan has ensured victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi by asserting that the BJP's electoral victory will boost India-Pakistan talks in the future.
Yasin Malik produced before Delhi court in terror funding case
The National Investigation Agency Wednesday produced JKLF chief Yasin Malik before a Delhi court 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. He was on Tuesday shifted to Delhi's Tihar Jail after the NIA secured his production remand in connection with the terror funding case. Malik, who was arrested last month and shifted to Kot Balwal Jail in Jammu, 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 Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 1989 and killing of four Indian Air Force personnel in the early part of 1990. NIA had approached a .
Pakistan opted for 'measured response' to India's Feb 26 air strikes: PM Imran Khan
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that Pakistan had opted for a "measured response" to India's February 26 air strikes by bombing an empty area just across the Indian border.During an informal chat with a group of foreign journalists, Khan said that he was awakened by a phone call at 3.30 a.m. on February 26 when a Pakistani military official informed him that Indian warplanes had just crossed the border and conducted strikes on Pakistani soil.Pakistan opted for a "measured response" and bombed an empty area just across the Indian border, he said."They hit our trees, so we thought we would hit their stones," The New York Times quoted Prime Minister Khan as saying. He was talking to the journalists upon completion of his first eight months in office.As a "peace gesture", he had announced the release of Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in Pakistan Parliament on February 28.The Wing Commander was held captive by Pakistani authorities on February 27 after
Jallianwala centenary: Commemoration to be low-key (IANS Special)
As this Sikh holy city gets down to commemorate 100 years of the worst incident in the history of pre-independent India, the shadow of the Lok Sabha elections has definitely forced the commemoration of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to be a low-key affair.
Govt compromised on national security: Yechury's jibe on Rafale
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal, CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged Wednesday that the government has compromised on national security. Continuing his attack on the ruling party over the Rafale fighter jet deal with France, Yechury said the deal "promoted cronyism". "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, 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 preliminary objections claiming "privilege" over them.
Pak has 'officially' allied with Modi, vote for him is vote for Pak: Cong
The Congress on Wednesday cited a media report to claim that Pakistan has "officially allied" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said a vote for him would be a vote for the neighbouring country. Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala launched a scathing attack on Modi over the report quoting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan saying he believes there may be a better chance of peace talks with India and settling the Kashmir issue if Modi's party BJP wins the general elections. Khan said other parties would be afraid of right-wing backlash in case of a settlement on the Kashmir issue. "Pak has officially allied with Modi! A vote for Modi is a vote for Pakistan!" Surjewala tweeted. "Modi ji, first there was love for Nawaz Sharif and now Imran Khan is your dear friend," he added in a tweet in Hindi. The truth is out in the open, Surjewala claimed.
Rafale: SC allows use of leaked documents, dismisses Centre's objections
In a setback to the Centre, the Supreme Court Wednesday allowed leaked documents to be relied upon by petitioners seeking review of its Rafale judgement and dismissed the government's preliminary objections claiming "privilege" over them. The Centre had submitted that privilege documents were procured by petitioners in an illegal way and used to support their review petitions against the December 14, 2018 judgement of the apex court dismissing all pleas challenging procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. "We dismiss the preliminary objection raised by Union of India questioning the maintainability of the review petition," a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph said. The apex court said it will go ahead with the hearing on the review petition on the basis of new documents referred by petitioners. The CJI pronounced the verdict on his behalf and for Justice S K Kaul. The second concurrent judgment was pronounced by Justice K M ...
Imran Khan says better chance of peace with India if BJP wins general elections
Pakistan's Premier 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. India will go to elections in seven phases beginning from Thursday. "Perhaps if the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)....wins, some kind of settlement in Kashmir could be reached," Khan told a small group of foreign journalists in an interview. He said other parties would be afraid of right-wing backlash in case of settlement on the Kashmir issue. Khan said Kashmir was the central issue between the two countries. India maintains that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and Pakistan is in illegal occupation of a part of the state's territory. Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. Amid mounting outrage, the ...