Page 972 - Politics
Maha: Is it Cong manifesto or that of Jaish, asks Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Tuesday attacked the Congress Lok Sabha poll manifesto for its stand on powers of the armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir and sedition law by asking whether it belonged to the opposition party or terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Addressing a rally for the BJP candidate for Pune Lok Sabha seat, Girish Bapat, he hit out at the Congress for stating in its manifesto that deployment of armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir would be reduced if the party came to power. "They are also saying that if they come to power, they will reduce the special powers given to the army in Jammu and Kashmir. What special power does the army have in Jammu and Kashmir? If terrorists are sighted, they have all the powers to eliminate them. They have powers to put stone pelters behind bars," said Fadnavis. He claimed taking away these powers, as the Congress manifesto promises, will embolden terrorists to enter the restive northern state at will. "I am ...
Baghel expresses grief over Naxal attack
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed deep sorrow over the death of BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel in a Naxal attack in Dantewada district Tuesday. After the 2013 Jhiram valley Naxal attack, in which several Congress leaders were killed, this was another major and highly condemnable "attack on parliamentary democracy", Baghel said here. "Our MLA colleague Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel were killed in the Naxal attack. I am deeply shocked over the incident. I have no words to express my sorrow," Baghel tweeted. "Who will understand this pain more than us (the Congress) as we lost an entire generation of our leaders in a major Naxal attack," he said, referring to the Jhiram valley attack. "Our government is trying to win the confidence of tribal people in the entire state including Bastar. This ghastly act is outcome of their (Naxals') frustration," Baghel said. "We again repeat our commitment to our fight to strengthen ...
HIGHLIGHTS NORTH 10.45 PM
These are the top stories from the northern region at 10.45 pm MEERUT ELN103 UP-YOGI-MUSLIMS Meerut (UP): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stoked controversy on Tuesday, dubbing the Muslim League a green virus and suggesting that Hindu and Muslim voters are in an Ali-Bajrang Bali contest. LUCKNOW ELN70 UP-CAMPAIGN (RPT) Lucknow, Apr 9: Campaigning ended Tuesday evening in eight western Uttar Pradesh constituencies where the ruling BJP is going all out to repeat its 2014 Lok Sabha performance, a task made much tougher this time by the new SP-BSP-RLD alliance. DEHRADUN ELN89 UKD-2NDLD CAMPAIGNING Dehradun: Campaigning for Uttarakhand's five Lok Sabha seats going to polls on April 11 came to an end Tuesday, with BJP and Congress top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Rahul Gandhi, addressing a slew of rallies in different parts of the state over the past fortnight. MUZAFFARNAGAR ELX12 UP-AJITSINGH-INTERVIEW Muzaffarnagar (UP): Seeking to rewind the ..
BJP MLA, 4 others killed in Maoist blast in Chhattisgarh (Roundup)
BJP's lone legislator from Chhattisgarh's Maoist-affected Bastar region, Bhima Mandavi, was killed along with four policemen on Tuesday evening as Maoists carried out a deadly attack on his convoy in a forested patch in Dantewada district.
Modi backs Sumalatha in Karnataka's Mandya seat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday backed multi-lingual south Indian actress Sumalatha Ambareesh, an Independent in the high-profile Mandya Lok Sabha constituency whom the BJP is supporting to wrest the seat from the JD-S.
Political families 'milking' Kashmir issue: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the people want freedom from "political families" who have been "milking" the Kashmir issue and the situation in Valley is such that people want change, whether it is about Article 370 or Article 35A.
Note ban biggest scam, officials involved: Congress
The Congress on Tuesday said that demonetisation was the "biggest scam" in the country and alleged involvement of government officials in currency exchange to earn money and looting the country.
BJP says EC should take charge of security in C'garh
In the wake of the Naxal attack in Dantewada district in which a BJP MLA and four others were killed, the party Tuesday demanded that the Election Commission of India take control of security in Chhattisgarh. MLA Bheema Mandavi and four security personnel were killed as Naxals blew up their vehicle, two days before polling for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections is held in the state. A delegation of party leaders including state BJP chief Vikram Usendi and former minister Brijmohan Agrawal submitted a letter to Chhattisgarh's Chief Electoral Officer late in the evening. The letter demanded CBI probe into the attack, and urged the commission to make extensive security arrangements for the April 11 polling in Bastar Lok Sabha constituency by taking control of the entire security set-up. The letter alleged that the Congress government in the state was hand in glove with Naxals, and added that Tuesday's incident took place due to this "political conspiracy" which the CBI
Ex-civil servants write to Kovind over EC's credibility
A group of former bureaucrats and diplomats, including Najeeb Jung and Shiv Shankar Menon, has written a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind complaining that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was suffering from "a crisis of credibility" and alleged that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has been violated several times, but the poll body has failed to take action.
Rahul challeges PM for open debate on Rafale
Calling Rafale fighter jet deal the biggest defence "corruption" since Independence, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate on the issue.
Modi will be re-elected PM: TN CM
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Tuesday expressed confidence that Narendra Modi will be re-elected Prime Minister and ridiculed the opposition for not having chosen a prime ministerial candidate. Modi was identified as the prime ministerial candidate by all the alliance partners in the NDA, while there was no unity among the opposition parties to select a candidate, Palaniswmi said at a rally seeking votes for candidates for five constituencies, in the presence of Modi. "The opposition is still searching for its PM candidate. Only DMK president M K Stalin is projecting Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate," he said. Palaniswami expressed confidence of winning all the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone Puducherry seat besides the bypolls to 22 assembly seats. Referring to the BJP manifesto, the chief minister said with interlinking of rivers, there will be Godavari-Cauvery linking which will be a great boon to delta farmers. Tamil Nadu goes to
Britain's May seeks Merkel, Macron support for Brexit delay
Prime Minister Theresa May battled Tuesday to stop Britain crashing out of the EU this week, pleading with France and Germany for a second and more lengthy delay to Brexit. A day ahead of an emergency EU summit that will help decide Britain's fate, May met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin and was due later to meet in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, who so far has taken a harder line on the issue. In a possible boost for the embattled British premier, an aide to Macron said Paris could be prepared to accept an extension of less than a year. In Germany, a source in Merkel's party said she could consider a delay until the start of 2020. After meeting Europe's two most powerful figures, May is hoping EU leaders will agree at the emergency summit to postpone Brexit from April 12 to June 30, to give her more time to get her divorce deal through parliament. British MPs have rejected the text, and May's government is now in talks with the opposition Labour party to .
Modi woos women, first-time voters in Tamil Nadu
Criticising the Congress and the DMK for being anti-woman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, here on Tuesday, said his government's schemes had benefited the women and time has come for women to led the development.
UK flags financial implications' of Jallianwala Bagh apology
The UK government on Tuesday flagged financial implications as one of the factors it had to consider while reflecting upon demands for a formal apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to mark its centenary this week. UK Foreign Office minister Mark Field told a debate on Jallianwala Bagh massacre at Westminster Hall in the House of Commons complex that while it was important to draw a line under the past over the shameful episode in history, repeatedly issuing apologies for events related to the British Raj came with their own problems. I have slightly orthodox views on Britain's colonial past. I feel little reluctant to make apologies for things that have happened in the past, the minister said. He added: There are also concerns that any government department has to make about any apology, given that there may well be financial implications to making an apology. I feel we perhaps debase the currency of apologies if we are seen to make them for many, many events. However, while ...
Cong manifesto soft on terror, its views on Army similar to those of Pak: PM
Attacking the Congress over its manifesto, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said its election pledges are soft on terror and echo views on the Army that are similar to those of Pakistan. In an interview to CNN-News 18, he said the Congress manifesto talks about removing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) which amounts to sending soldiers to the gallows. He also exuded confidence that the BJP will again form the government with a bigger mandate as compared to 2014. "There is a world of difference on many parameters. We are at the crossroads of eliminating terrorism. Terrorists are demoralised, we are winning a psychological war against them. Instead (of backing such efforts), the Congress manifesto is soft on terror. Their views on the Army are similar to those of Pakistan," Modi said in the interview which was broadcast on Tuesday. No patriot will tolerate this language, he said. "Their manifesto talks about removing AFSPA. This amounts to making a soldier weaponless. Is ...
CPM accuses PM Modi, Himanta Biswas Sharma of violating MCC, writes to EC
CPM Polit Bureau member Nilotpal Basu has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Assam Cabinet Minister Himanta Biswas Sharma for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora, Basu said: "Today, April 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked first-time voters to dedicate their votes to those who carried out the air strike in Balakot. He stated:"Can your first vote be dedicated to those who carried out the airstrike?", while appealing to first-time voters at a poll rally in Latur in Maharashtra. We are appending herewith media reports to this effect.""We also draw your attention to the brazenly provocative statement Himanta Bishwas Sharma who has in his election campaign asserted that they did not need votes from those wearing 'dhothis and lungis', alluding to linguistic and religious minorities in the state," Basu said.Basu also accused the ECI of treating ...
Manmohan Singh condoles K M Mani's death
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the death of veteran Congress leader K M Mani, calling his passing away a loss to the country. In a letter to Mani's son Jose K Mani, Singh said, "I have learnt with profound sorrow about the untimely demise of your beloved father Shri K M Mani today, the 9th April, 2019. I join numerous admirers and well wishers of Shri Mani in mourning his death. In his death our country has lost a veteran political leader who served our country especially the state of Kerala for his entire life with dedication." Singh said he had fond memories of interacting with K M Mani as Finance Minister and Prime Minister and described him as a dear friend. He said Mani was very knowledgeable in financial matters and public affairs. "I convey to you and other members of your family my heartfelt condolences on this bereavement. We pray to the Almighty to give all of you the strength to bear this great loss with courage and fortitude," Singh said in the letter to ...
Won't be threatened by raids aimed at stopping Oppn leaders from contesting LS polls: Ahmed Patel
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said Tuesday he will not be cowed down by raids carried out by Income Tax authorities against party leaders and workers and alleged the searches were aimed at stopping opposition leaders from contesting the Lok Sabha election. Patel said the use of Income Tax department to "target" BJP's political opponents ahead of Lok Sabha polls shows the "desperation" in the ruling party. He said people will give a befitting reply to BJP in the elections beginning on April 11. On Sunday, Income Tax Department officials raided properties in several locations, including the Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh, against close aides of MP Chief Minister Kamal Nath and others on charges of tax evasion and hawala transactions. They have also raided the premises of S M Moin, an employee of Patel, in Delhi's Geeta Colony over the past a few days. Patel had visited Moin's residence when I-T Department sleuths were present there. "The BJP is getting raids on their political ...
EC seeks report on PM's Balakot strike remarks
The Election Commission has taken cognizance of Prime Mnister Narendra Modi's remarks asking first-time voters to dedicate their vote to those who carried out the air strike in Balakot, and has sought a report from poll officials in Maharashtra. Sources in the poll panel said Tuesday that the chief electoral officer of Maharashtra has been asked to submit a report at the earliest. Addressing a rally in Ausa in Mahrashtra's Latur, Modi said, "Can your first vote be dedicated to those who carried out the air strike." "I want to tell the first-time voters: can your first vote be dedicated to the veer jawans (valiant soldiers) who carried out the air strike in Pakistan). Can your first vote be dedicated to the veer shaheed (brave martyrs) of Pulwama (terror attack)," Modi said. The report has been sought in the context of an EC advisory issued last month asking parties to desist from indulging in political propaganda involving actions of the armed forces. "...parties/candidates are ...
Terror funding case: Mirwaiz questioned by NIA for second consecutive day
Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was Tuesday questioned by the National Investigation Agency for the second consecutive day in connection with a case related to funding of terror groups and separatist organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said here. The Mirwaiz came to the NIA headquarters under police protection and was questioned on the matter of funding of his own party -- Awami Action Committee -- and Hurriyat Conference, a conglomerate of several separatist organisations, the officials said. He was questioned for around 10 hours and was asked to appear before the agency on Wednesday, they said. The Mirwaiz is the chairman of the Hurriyat Conference which has in the past engaged with the NDA and UPA-led governments for talks to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. The NIA probe seeks to identify the chain of players behind the financing of terrorist activities, pelting of stones on security forces, burning down of schools and damaging of government ...