Page 973 - Politics
UN postpones Libya talks as violence rages
The United Nations on Tuesday postponed a Libyan national conference aimed at drawing up an election roadmap because of fighting raging near the capital, in another setback to peace efforts. The move came as the North African country's warring parties faced mounting international pressure to halt violence that has caused thousands to flee and left several dozen people dead. "We cannot ask people to take part in the conference during gunfire and air strikes," UN envoy Ghassan Salame said. He expressed hope that the meeting, which had been scheduled for next week, would take place "as soon as possible". UN chief Antonio Guterres called for an "immediate halt" to hostilities, after Tripoli's only functional airport was hit in an air strike on Monday by the forces of strongman Khalifa Haftar. After a night-time lull, fighting resumed on Tuesday morning south of the city, a security source said. The oil-rich country has been rocked by violent power struggles between an array of armed ...
Poll campaign ends in Jammu, Baramulla Lok Sabha seats
Poll campaign ended on Tuesday evening in Jammu and Baramulla Lok Sabha constituencies where voting is scheduled on Thursday in the first phase of 5-phase Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Top Army Commanders deliberate on security challenges facing country
Top Army commanders deliberated extensively on security challenges facing the country and ways to enhance its combat edge over potential adversaries at a conference. The commanders particularly discussed India's security preparedness along the border with Pakistan in the wake of the changing security scenario following India's air strike on a terrorist training camp in Pakistan's Balakot and subsequent developments, sources said. The conference, from April 8 to 14, is being chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat and it will also deliberate on specific issues relating to Army formations and the Army as a whole. The commanders will also deliberate on infrastructure development along India's border with China, laying of strategic railway lines and ways to optimise "limited budget" to ensure making up of critical deficiency in ammunition, officials said. The Army commanders' conference is held biannually for formulating important policy decisions through collegiate ...
NIA arrests Qatar-based IS sympathizer in Kerala
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said it had on Tuesday arrested Islamic State sympathizer Shaibu Nihar from Kerala, upon his arrival here from Qatar, for facilitating travel of some of his associates to Syria to join the terror outfit.
EC replaces Cooch Behar SP; TMC unhappy
The Election Commission on Tuesday transferred West Bengal's Cooch Behar district Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Gupta and barred him from election-related duty, two days ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in the area.
SC order on review of Rafale verdict on Wednesday
The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce on Wednesday its verdict on the government's plea claiming privilege over the documents filed by petitioners seeking review of its December 14 Rafale judgment.
EC transfers Mandya's returning officer on BJP complaint
The Karnataka government on Tuesday transferred the high-profile Mandya Lok Sabha constituency's returning officer, Deputy Commissioner N. Manjushree, on the Election Commission's direction.
Vatican to host S.Sudan warring rivals to encourage peace process
South Sudan's warring rivals President Salva Kiir and rebel leader and former vice president Riek Machar will attend a retreat at the Vatican this week "to work for a future of peace", the Holy See said. The arch-rivals will attend "an occasion for encounter and reconciliation, in a spirit of respect and trust," the Vatican said in a statement, describing it as "both ecumenical and diplomatic at the same time". The encounter on Wednesday and Thursday between "those who in this moment have the mission and the responsibility to work for a future of peace and prosperity for the South Sudanese people" had been proposed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who will also attend. Kiir left for the retreat on Tuesday, government spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told journalists in Juba, adding that Machar too had already travelled from Khartoum, where he has been living in exile. The two men last saw each other in October last year, shortly after the signing of a power-sharing deal, when ..
Modi mocks Rahul for contesting from Wayanad seat
Commenting for the first time on Congress President Rahul Gandhi contesting also from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said fear of losing in Karnataka forced the latter to opt for a safe seat in the neighbouring state.
NYAY has amazing resonance in field; PM can't stop talking about it: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said his party's proposed minimum income scheme 'NYAY' has an "absolutely amazing" resonance in the field and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "can't stop talking about it". The Congress has promised to deposit Rs 72,000 annually into the bank accounts of 20 per cent of the poorest people across the country if it comes to power. "NYAY is such a powerful idea. Absolutely amazing resonance in the field. Even PM (Past Master) can't stop talking about it," Gandhi tweeted. The Congress' battle cry for the Lok Sabha polls is 'Ab Hoga Nyay' and its campaign is centred around the theme of 'justice'.
I-T searches: Federal structure violated, says Digvijaya
Recent searches conducted in Madhya Pradesh by the Income Tax department by roping in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have prompted senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh to allege that the action was a blow to the federal structure because the state government was kept in dark by the Centre. Singh also sought explanations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on this "violation of the Constitution". The searches were conducted on Sunday and Monday in Indore and Bhopal at the premises of the people allegedly linked to state Chief Minister Kamal Nath. "As per the federal structure of the Constitution, no employee or official of any Central agency can take action in any state without informing the state government. "I think the way the Centre's IT department and Enforcement Directorate (ED), along with the CRPF, took the action (to conduct the searches), it amounts to the violation of the Constitution. The PM and the Finance Minister ..
Adityanath stokes controversy with Ali-Bajrang Bali remarks, calls Muslim League 'virus'
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. Attacking Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati for recently appealing to Muslims to vote for the opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh, Adityanath said now the Hindus have no option but to vote for the BJP. The BJP leader said Dalit-Muslim unity is impossible, and in Bareilly, he accused Mayawati of hurting Dalit sentiments with her call to Muslim voters at a rally in Saharanpur's Deoband. "Agar Congress, SP, BSP ko Ali par vishwaas hai, toh humein bhi Bajrang Bali par vishwaas hai (If the Congress, the SP and the BSP have faith in Ali, then we too have faith in Bajrang Bali)," the BJP leader said at an election meeting in Meerut. Ali is a revered figure in Islam and Lord Hanuman is often called Bajrang Bali. Adityanath had used the Ali-Bajrang Bali formulation last year as well after Congress .
BJP to appeal against govt decision to withdraw 142 cases on
The BJP will appeal against the Karnataka governments decision to withdraw 142 cases relating to serious crimes across the state, the party's MLA from Mangaluru North Bharath Shetty said Tuesday. Addressing reporters at the BJP election committee office here, Shetty alleged that the hidden agenda behind the decision was nothing but appeasement of minority communities for electoral gains. "In the cases proposed to be withdrawn, majority of the accused are from minority communities. A few cases in which Hindus were accused have been included in the list to create an impression that the move was impartial, Shetty alleged. The government was sending a wrong message to the people by suggesting withdrawal of cases like those related to communal disturbances at Ulaibettu in 2014. If the accused in such cases are allowed to go scot-free, the communal situation in Dakshina Kannada district would only woren, he said.
Former Manipur minister Holkhomang Haokip passes away
Veteran politician and former minister of Manipur, Holkhomang Haokip, passed away on Tuesday, family sources said. Haokip, also a former member of Parliament, was a leader of the Kuki community in northeastern India. He was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999. Earlier, Haokip was elected to the Manipur Assembly in 1972 and became the minister of state for education and tribal welfare. In 1980, he was appointed as the deputy chairman of the State Planning Board. He was a cabinet minister of industries, planning and transport from 1981 to 1984, industry minister from 1989 to 1992 and power Minister between 1992 and 1995. Holkhomang Haokip was the son of veteran freedom fighter Chunglet Haokip of the Indian National Army (INA).
TDP complains to EC about Jaganmohan Reddy's alleged involvement in criminal, corruption cases
The Telegu Desam Party (TDP) on Tuesday filed a complaint against YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president, Jagan Mohan Reddy, to the Election Commission of India (ECI), regarding his alleged involvement in criminal and corruption cases, and for making false allegations against the ruling party.In a letter written to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Ravindra Kumar, Member of Rajya Sabha and president of Legal Cell (TDP), said: "Jagan Mohan Reddy floated a political party--YSR Congress. The name of the party itself is a fraud.""The full form of the name is Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress and he made it popular as if it is the offshoot of the legacy of his father YS Rajasekhar Reddy, who was Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh during 2004 and 2009. Simultaneously, he also established a Telugu news daily and a news channel in the name of "Sakshi" daily and Sakshi news Channel," he said."We filed many complaints against Sakshi newspaper and Sakshi television for their misinformation and bad ...
A lot of anger in public against BJP, support for Congress: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday exuded confidence about a win in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in the state as there is a lot of anger in the public against the BJP."We are very hopeful that we will win, there is lot of anger in the public against BJP and support for Congress. I request people to vote for our candidates here (Kairana, Saharanpur and Bijnor) so that we win with a huge margin," Priyanka told media after conducting a roadshow in Saharanpur.The seven-phase election in the country is slated to begin on April 11 and will go on till May 19. Counting of votes will be held on May 23.There are 80 Lok Sabha seats at stake in Uttar Pradesh, polling for which will be held in all seven phases.
CBI officer probing Vijay Mallya bank fraud case gets extension
IPS officer Sai Manohar Aramane, who is probing a politically-sensitive bank fraud case involving fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, has been given an extension in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the extension in deputation tenure of Aramane, a 1995 batch IPS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, till January 16 next year, an order issued Tuesday by the Personnel Ministry said. Aramane was given an extension from July 17, 2018 till April this year. He is currently working as the joint director in the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Aramane is said to be close to former CBI chief Rakesh Asthana, who was involved in a bitter fight against his then boss Alok Kumar Verma. Both had accused each other of corruption. Two other CBI officers have been promoted as joint directors in the probe agency. Both the officers -- D S Shukla and Ramnish -- are working at the Deputy Inspector ...
Lapin confirmed as Haiti's new prime minister
Haiti's President Jovenel Moise on Tuesday confirmed Jean-Michel Lapin as the country's new prime minister, just weeks after the Chamber of Deputies censured his predecessor's six-month-old government. The new administration that Lapin -- currently the acting prime minister - must assemble with Moise will face pressing problems such as the high cost of living and the insecurity that plagues the capital. Haiti is still recovering from widespread riots in February, when thousands of people took to the streets across the country -- one of the world's poorest -- to demand better living conditions and the departure of the head of state. For about 11 days, all activities ground to a halt in Port-au-Prince and across most of the Caribbean country's cities. Lapin, the former culture and communications minister, was named acting prime minister on March 21, three days after the Chamber of Deputies voted to censure the government of former prime minister Jean-Henry Ceant. Lawmakers ...
Delhi BJP files complaint against Cong for MCC violation
The Delhi unit of BJP has written to the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, demanding action against the Congress for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct. Delhi BJP general secretary Rajesh Bhatia, in the letter to the EC on Tuesday, said he had seen two autorickshaws, plying near the India Gate roundabout, with posters promoting the Congress party, with the slogan, "Congress party se high-five". "It means that the autorickshaws are being used by the party for campaigning. Who gave the approval to the party for using public transport for campaigning?" he said. He urged the Delhi poll body to probe the complaint and take action against the Congress party for the alleged violation.
EC squad, Congress raid BJP's spin factory in Mumbai
The Election Commission's flying squad and the Maharashtra Congress jointly raided an alleged illegal factory engaged in manufacturing electronic propaganda material for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an official said here on Tuesday.