Page 974 - Politics
Cameras seized from Likud workers from polling sites
The Likud Party of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hired hundreds of activists to use hidden cameras to film Arab voters in polling stations during the general elections on Tuesday, officials said.
NIA arrests man for propagating ISIS ideology
A man, who was wanted for propagating the ideology of banned terror-group ISIS, was arrested Tuesday by the NIA on his return from Qatar. Shaibu Nihar (39), a resident of Kozhikode in Kerala, was arrested from the Calicut international airport on his arrival from Doha, Qatar, a statement issued by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said. "The accused, Shaibu Nihar, had planned to travel to Syria to join the proscribed terrorist organization ISIS/Daish in December 2016, from Bahrain, while running an advertising company there," the probe agency said. During 2016-2017, he had facilitated the travel of some of his associates to Syria with the intention of joining the ISIS, and waging war on its behalf against the Syrian government, it said. Following the arrest of some of his associates in October 2017, Nihar shifted from Bahrain and took shelter in Qatar, and continued his advertising company, the statement said. The NIA had taken the investigation in the case on the basis of a ...
CM raising issue of statehood to cover up his govt's failures: Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari
The BJP is not against full statehood for Delhi, but Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been raising the issue to "cover up" the failures of his government, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said Tuesday. Tiwari said the BJP's manifesto is for the entire country, but there are many things that will benefit the people of Delhi. By 2022, the BJP will provide houses to lakhs of homeless people of Delhi, he said. The manifesto makes provision for supplying drinking water for all the families of Delhi through water taps under its programme 'Nal se Jal' by 2024. He said provision has also been made for pension to small traders of Delhi after 60 years of age so that they lead a respectable life in old age. "The GST process is being simplified and the small traders registered under GST will get accident insurance of Rs 10 lakh. There is also a scheme of Traders Credit Card for the registered traders just like the Kisan Credit Card. National Traders Commission will also be formed for the benefit of
66 former bureaucrats write to President raising concern about EC's credibility
Sixty-six former bureaucrats have written to President Ram Nath Kovind, expressing concern over the credibility and functioning of the Election Commission for failing to deal with alleged cases of poll violations, particulary those involving the ruling party. The instances cited by the former bureaucrats include Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation about the successful launch of India's first anti-satellite weapon (A-SAT), release of web-series "Modi: A Common Man's Journey" and the "lethargy" in respect of the poll commission's action on the launch of NaMo TV channel. Referring to the instance of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dubbing the Indian Army "Modi's Army", the bureaucrats said strongest action was required from the EC to "nip such cavalier statements in the bud" but it "contented itself in the present case with a mild reprimand to the UP CM". "We write to express our deep anguish that the Election Commission of India, which has had a long and ...
Address mining ban in Goa: Congress to Modi
A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address his only poll campaign poll in Goa, the Congress on Tuesday demanded that the top BJP leader address key issues related to the coastal state, which includes failure to tackle unemployment, restarting mining and special status for Goa.
BJP MLA, 4 others killed in Maoist attack (Third Lead)
A BJP MLA and four others were killed in a major Maoist attack in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, two days ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in the constituency, officials said.
Will open two closed paper mills in Assam: Rahul
Accusing the BJP of lying to the people, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that his party, if voted to power, will revive the two closed paper mills in the state.
CPI-M alleges poll code violation by Modi, asks EC to act
The CPI-M on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging he violated the Model Code of Conduct at a rally in Maharashtra when he asked first-time voters to dedicate their votes to the men who carried out the air strike in Pakistan's Balakot.
No need to learn patriotism from Modi, says Kumaraswamy
Hitting out at the Prime Minister, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Tuesday said he has lived in Karnataka, which is in India, and there was no needfor him to learn from Narendra Modi about "patriotism." "I'm in Karnataka, I also know things, it is not only Modi who knows...Kumaraswamy has lived and is living in Karnataka, in India, I need not learn from Modi on patriotism," Kumaraswamy told reporters here. Responding to Modi's attack on him during his rallies in the State, he said "We have shed tears when a soldier's wife (Kalavathi, wife of CRPF man Guru who died in Pulwama attack) was made to shed tears in Malavalli." "Only Narendra Modi has to pat himself on his own back.. that is all..," Kumaraswamy said when asked about Modi criticising opposition leaders including him for questioning air strikes at Balakot in Pakistan. Modi during a election rally at Chitradurga on Tuesdaysaid the whole world stood with India, but "our Mahamilavati dal here" (Congress-JDS), was ...
Now, Gambhir, Mehbooba trade barbs on Kashmir
Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who recently sparred with Omar Abdullah on the issue of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday exchanged sharp barbs with another former J&K chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, who ended up blocking him on Twitter. Gambhir, who joined BJP last month, had a go at the PDP leader after she claimed that scrapping Article 370 will mean India's Constitution will no longer be applicable in the state and that if Indians do not understand it, they will "disappear" and their "story will be over". Gambhir retorted to her remarks, saying "This is India not a blot like you that it will disappear," drawing a sharp response from Mufti. She said, "Hope your political innings in the BJP is not as abysmal as your cricket career." Their exchanged turned worse with Gambhir hitting back, "Oh! So you have unblocked my twitter handle! You needed 10 hours to respond to my tweet and come up with such a pedestrian analogy! Too slow. It shows the lack of depth in your ...
MP I-T searches: BJP asks EC to transfer Indore SSP Mishra
The Madhya Pradesh BJP Tuesday asked the Election Commission to transfer Indore police official Ruchi Vardhan Mishra for arriving at the house of an aide of MP CM Kamal Nath while an Income-Tax search was underway. Senior Superintendent of Police Ruchi Vardhan Mishra Sunday reached the house of Pravin Kakkad, ex-Officer on Special Duty of Nath, in the city's Vijay Nagar area while an I-T operation was underway there. The BJP complaint, submitted to district returning officer Lokesh Kumar Jatav, stated that Mishra reached Kakkad's residence despite the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which was deployed as security cover for the I-T raids, had not sought help from MP police. "Mishra reached the house at the behest of the state Congress government and tried to hinder the I-T investigation against Kakkad. The SSP should be transferred immediately," MP BJP spokesperson Umesh Sharma told reporters. The party's complaint to the returning officer stated that Mishra be ...
Theresa May meets Merkel with Brexit delay request
UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday visited German Chancellor Angela Merkel in another last-minute Brexit trip, with Britain due to leave the EU in three days.
Naveen urges poll panel to allow KALIA scheme
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday urged the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to allow implementation of farmers' KALIA scheme.
Ex-Delhi Police officer meets Nirmala Sitharaman, triggers speculations of fighting polls
Former Delhi Police officer Deepak Mishra Tuesday met BJP's Delhi unit in-charge for Lok Sabha polls Nirmala Sitharaman, triggering speculations about him being considered as a party candidate from the national capital. BJP sources claimed the meeting lasted for about 20 minutes at the party's DDU Marg headquarters. Sources said that Mishra and Sitharaman are both from JNU and know each other. "Mishra, who belongs to Jharkhand, may be fielded from a Lok Sabha seat in Delhi, having sizeable number of Purvanchali voters," they said. The list of BJP candidates from Delhi is yet to be announced. The local unit has drawn up a list of over 30 probables, including all seven sitting MPs. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, a Purvanchali, currently holds the North East Delhi seat. Bhojpuri-speaking people from eastern UP, Bihar and Jharkhand, settled in the national capital, have significant presence in almost all the seven seats, especially in North East, West and South Delhi constituencies. A ...
Amit Shah holds roadshow in Puri
BJP President Amit Shah Tuesday led a roadshow in this seaside pilgrim town of Odisha to bolster the prospects of his party in the Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections. Before embarking on the roadshow on "Bada Danda", the grand avenue, from the Singha Dwara (Lion's Gate) of Shree Jagannath Temple, Shah visited the 12th century shrine and sought the blessings of the Lord. Moving in an open vehicle, the BJP chief was accompanied by senior leaders including Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, party's national vice-president Baijayant Panda, its Odisha in-charge Arun Singh and Bijoy Mohapatra. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra, who has been fielded for Puri Lok Sabha seat, also joined the roadshow as a large number of people lined up on both sides of the grand avenue to have a glimpse of the leaders. Shah waved at the crowd while proceeding in the decorated vehicle, with the entire route teeming with BJP workers, who frantically waved party flags and chanted slogans .
EC asks probe agencies to take strong action against those using black money to vitiate poll process
The Election Commission on Tuesday directed the probe agencies under the central department of revenue to "come down heavily" on those who indulge in using black money and illegal inducements to vitiate the ongoing poll process. The EC also asked the CBDT to furnish to it a full report by Wednesday on the raids conducted by Income Tax Department on close aides of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and others in four states on Sunday. Union Revenue Secretary A B Pandey and CBDT chairman P C Mody Tuesday morning met Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra, after the poll panel sought a meeting on a recent directive to the revenue department for a fair and impartial conduct of operations by agencies under its command, such as the I-T Department, ED and Customs and DRI. Official sources said the two officials briefed the EC on the intelligence inputs it is receiving during the election season and the mechanism to execute ...
Marathi groups demand Indore LS ticket for Mahajan's son
Indore-based organisations of Marathi-speaking people have written to BJP president Amit Shah demanding that, in case sitting MP Sumitra Mahajan is denied a party ticket for the April-May Lok Sabha polls, then her son Milind be considered. Indore Lok Sabha seat, a BJP stronghold, has been held by Mahajan since 1989 but no candidate has been declared by the party as yet giving rise to speculation that the Lok Speaker might be eased out as she will turn 76 in a few days time. "If the BJP re-nominates Mahajan, we will ensure that she is victorious. In case she is not nominated, as per the party's stand of not giving tickets to those above 75 years of age, then we want her son Milind to be given a ticket," local corporator and Mahajan supporter Sudhir Dedge said. He said a request letter had been sent to Shah but did not divulge the date when it was sent. Milind is executive president of Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal, a cultural organisation working for the welfare of ...
If Indira is praised for 1971 war, why not Modi for Balakot:
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday said if then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi can be praised for splitting Pakistan into two in 1971, why can't incumbent Narendra Modi be applauded for giving a befitting reply to Islamabad for the Pulwama terror attack. Addressing a well-attended public meeting at Nehru Maidan here, he ridiculed the Congress for questioning the air strike on a terror camp at Balakot in Pakistan and over the issue of number of terrorists killed in the operation. The former BJP president said the February 26 air strike led to restlessness in Pakistan which is understandable, but sought to know why the same feeling prevailed in some sections in India. "When terrorists attacked and killed our 42 soldiers in Pulwama, Prime Minister Modi immediately held a meeting and ordered the armed forces to avenge the attack within 15 days. "The operation was executed with utmost care on the 13th day (of Pulwama attack), taking precaution that no innocent person or .
BJD will play important role in govt formation at Centre:
Ruling BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday said no party will get absolute majority in the Lok Sabha election and claimed that Odisha will play an important role in the formation of the next government at the Centre. Patnaik said the regional party will support a government at the Centre that supports Odisha's legitimate rights. "This time no national party will get majority on its own to form government. Odisha will have a role in the formation of the next Central government. There, the BJD will support a government which will meet the state's rights," he said while releasing the BJD's manifesto. Alleging that successive Central governments have neglected the rights of Odisha, Patnaik said: "This neglect is historic and has led to Odisha being at the bottom of all Central subjects like telecom, railways, banking and national highways." Patnaik said the previous Congress led UPA government provided national status to Pollavaram Dam and the present ...
Those trying to attack India will be paid back with 'compound
Invoking national security as the top-most priority, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday warned that those trying to attack India will be paid back with "compound interest". Addressing a massive NDA rally here, Modi underlined his government's commitment to national security and accused the opposition of having no plans in the sphere. "Their attitude made India helpless in front of forces of terror for many years, when they were in power, innocent Indians had become targets of terrorists. Attacks happened in many cities, but the Congress did little," he alleged. Referring to the 1998 serial bomb blasts here, he said "your own city saw a deadly terror attack in February 1998" and slammed the manner in which the then DMK government headed by M Karunanidhi handled it. "Today India is different. Anyone who dares to attack India will get a strong response. We will pay back in same coin and with compound interest," Modi asserted. "Today, every Indian has become a chowkidar who