Page 6 - Politics

"Pre-planned," claims BJP national secy on 'attack' in Andhra's Amravati

BJP National Secretary Y Satya Kumar has alleged that an attack on his car in Amravati was a pre-planned attempt by YSR Congress party workers.

Shah to arrive in Patna today for two-day visit to address rallies

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Patna on Saturday evening for a two-day visit to Bihar, where he will address rallies in two districts on Sunday. He is expected to arrive at Jay Prakash Narayan Airport in Patna around 6.30 pm and senior BJP leaders and Union ministers from Bihar will receive him, state party president Samrat Choudhary said. "From the airport, he will go to a hotel, where he is expected to chair meetings with party leaders and administrative officials. On Sunday, he will address public meetings at Sasaram in Rohtas district and Hisua in Nawada to mark the birth anniversary of Emperor Ashoka," Choudhary told PTI. This will be Shah's fourth visit to the state since the ruling JD(U) snapped ties with the BJP in August last year. A multi-tier security arrangement has been put in place for the Union home minister's visit and drones have also been deployed for aerial surveillance, an official said. Shah will leave for New Delhi on Sunday evening.

Communal violence on table for BJP with 2024 polls nearing, alleges Sibal

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday alleged that communal violence was on the table for the BJP with the 2024 general elections approaching, and recent incidents in West Bengal and Gujarat were a "trailer." Violence and arson was reported from West Bengal's Howrah district after clashes broke out between two groups during Ram Navami festivities, with the BJP and the TMC trading barbs over it. Violence during Ram Navami festivities on Thursday was also reported from Gujarat and Maharashtra. In a tweet, Sibal said, "As we approach 2024. For the BJP, on the table: 1) communal violence 2) hate speech 3) baiting minorities 4) target opposition by use of ED, CBI, election commission. Trailer: Burning of Bengal, stoking communal violence in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat." Sibal, who was a Union minister during the UPA 1 and 2 regimes, quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an independent member with the Samajwadi Party's support. Sibal recently floa

Former BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh, Makhan Singh Solanki joins Congress

Digvijay Singh said," Makhan Singh Solanki has expressed his clear intentions of joining our party. BJP never respected him"

Amritpal dares to demand Khalistan due to BJP, RSS' 'Hindu Rashtra': Gehlot

"Politics is being done in the name of religion in the country. But if you take along the people belonging to every religion and caste for the country's good, this country will remain united," he said

Democracy in country in danger: Rajasthan CM over Rahul's disqualification

Where is the country heading? Democracy is in danger. ED, IT and CBI raids are ongoing. The judiciary is under pressure. How long will this go on? CM said

Assam CM threatens to sue Arvind Kejriwal if he calls him 'corrupt'

Speak against me a single word that I am corrupt and next day I am going to file a defamation case, the same thing I have done against Manish Sisodia," CM Sarma said

Rahul Gandhi to hold 'Jai Bharat' rally in poll-bound Karnataka on Apr 9

The election rally will be the first such public meeting of Rahul Gandhi after he was disqualified as a member of Lok Sabha

Congress in U'khand plans month-long protests against 'murder of democracy'

Uttarakhand Congress has readied a nearly month-long plan starting April to protest against the ongoing "murder of democracy" and a "conspiracy" to wipe out the opposition by framing its leaders who speak against the BJP-led government, a party member said on Saturday. Describing Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as an MP and the eviction notice to him to vacate his official bungalow as part of the alleged conspiracy, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara said a protest in different modes will be carried out in the state throughout the month of April against the "murder of democracy". The protests will include a postcard campaign, lodging written complaints at police stations across Uttarakhand against senior BJP leaders who have used unparliamentary words against Congress leaders in the past and holding political rallies across the state, he said at a press conference. Written complaints will be lodged against Bharatiya Janata Party leaders who had compared Sonia ..

'Kerala faced economic hardships due to Centre's unfavourable policies'

Kerala experienced economic hardships due to the unfavourable policy measures taken by the central government, State Finance Minister K N Balagopal said on Friday. Balagopal, who met the media here on the last day of the 2022-23 financial year, said there was a shortage of Rs 40,000 crore in this financial year due to the policies of the Centre. He also said that despite the adverse situations, Kerala managed to perform well in terms of income and expenditure. "Everything including salary, pension and loan repayment were paid correctly. The project cost of local bodies is over 96 per cent. Many panchayats have spent 100 per cent of the fund allotted, and the treasuries functioned without any hitch," Balagopal said. He said judicious financial management helped the state to perform well despite constraints. "Due to the unfavourable policy measure of the Union government, Kerala experienced huge economic hardships. There was a shortfall of Rs 40,000 crore this financial year due to

BJP alleges files on extension of contractual workers at MCD withheld

Delhi BJP on Friday alleged that files on the extension of contractual civic workers have been "withheld", following which they will not be able to work from April 1 onwards. The office of Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi, however, in a statement later said directions have been issued to senior officials to "extend the services" of such MCD employees. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor and councillor Yogesh Verma have alleged that Mayor Oberoi "withheld files on the extension of contractual services workers, beyond April 1, in various departments, including the horticulture department, by "putting pressure" on corporation officials. BJP leaders have said most of the permanent service personnel of the Municipal Corporation have retired and like other departments, almost all the groundwork of the horticulture department is being carried out by contract workers. Stopping the service extension files of the contract workers by the Mayor will have a direct impact on the maintenance o

LIVE new updates: India reports 3,095 coronavirus cases on Friday

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Kejriwal blames PM Modi, L-G Saxena for stopping free Yoga classes in Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lt Governor VK Saxena for the suspension of free Yoga classes under the 'Dilli ki Yogshala' programme and asked who benefitted from the action. Kejriwal's remarks come on the back of Punjab's AAP-led government starting free Yoga classes in the state. Last year, the AAP dispensation in Delhi accused the BJP of "conspiring" to shut down the 'Dilli ki Yogshala' programme by pressuring officials. At the time, the Delhi government alleged that Saxena did not approve the programme's extension beyond October 31. Tweeting in Hindi, Kejriwal said, "When the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) ordered the Lt Governor to stop free Yoga classes in Delhi, we started them in Punjab. "In Delhi, 17,000 people used to do Yoga daily in the free classes of the Delhi government. Their Yoga was stopped. Who benefited from this? The one who works is bigger than the one who stops the work." Kejriwal launched the 'Dilli K

K'taka: Cong, BJP lodge complaint against each other about code violation

The BJP and Congress have lodged complaints against each other with the Election Commission about Model Code of Conduct violations. While the Congress alleged that cookers and other inducement materials were found at Byatarayanapura in Bengaluru, the BJP charged that former chief minister Siddaramaiah distributed cash in Varuna in Mysuru. In his complaint, Congress candidate and former minister Krishna Byre Gowda alleged that about six days ago GST officers raided a premise and seized the inducement material worth Rs 3.6 crore. The BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy lodged the complaint on Wednesday in which he alleged that Siddaramaiah went to his constituency and distributed money. Meanwhile, Congress state president D K Shivakumar landed in trouble for allegedly throwing cash among people during an election campaign in Mandya on Tuesday. The police registered a non-cognisable offence against him. Assembly elections in Karnataka would be held on May 10.

Assam-Arunachal border row: Chief Ministers' level meeting held in Guwahati

The Assam Government has formed regional committees for talks with Arunachal Pradesh over the inter-state boundary issues with the neighbouring state

AIADMK alliance with BJP to continue, says party general secy Palaniswami

Amit Shah also has underlined that the alliance of his party with the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu will continue for the 2024 parliamentary polls

Nitin Gadkari dismisses reports of 'quitting politics', calls out media

"The media must uphold responsible journalism in their reporting on this matter," he added

LIVE: Companies making spurious medicines won't be spared, says Mandaviya

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'Global scamsters' coming to PM's defence: Congress on Lalit Modi's tweets

The Congress on Thursday used embattled IPL founder Lalit Modi's tweets threatening to take Rahul Gandhi to court, to attack the BJP and said that "global scamsters" were now coming to the defence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Former IPL chief Lalit Modi, accused of financial irregularities in India, launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, and also hit out at the Congress party for referring to him as a "fugitive of justice" even though he had never been convicted of any charges. Reacting to his remarks, Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal said,"Lalit Modi is a fugitive in multi-million dollar frauds whose cowardice made him run away. He now enjoys a plush life abroad thanks to BJP's inaction. It's laughable if he thinks anyone takes him seriously." "A new low for PM Modi, that global scamsters are coming to his defence," Venugopal said. Taking a dig at the BJP, Congress' media and publicity department chief Pawan Khera said,"Is now Sa

Manish Tewari writes to Om Birla over forest bill sent to joint panel

Congress MP Manish Tewari wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday over the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, being sent to a joint committee and demanded that it be examined by the standing committee. Tewari's letter to Birla comes a day after senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh lodged a protest with Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar over the bill being sent to a joint committee and demanded that it be examined by the standing committee, headed by Ramesh. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav introduced the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Bill was then sent to a joint committee of both the Houses for discussion. The Bill seeks to bring clarity to the country's forest conservation law and exempt certain categories of land from its purview to fast-track strategic and security-related projects of national importance. In his letter to Birla, Tewari raised the issue of the "unusual manner" in which the Forest (Conservation