CAA exposed Pakistan, youth being misguided: PM Narendra Modi

Mamata govt is not implementing central schemes as they do not help syndicates or involve cut money: PM

Latest News : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said a section of the youth was being misguided about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and asserted that it would not take away anybody’s citizenship.

“We must all know that any person of any religion from any country of the world, theist or atheist, who believes in India and its Constitution, can apply for Indian citizenship through due process. There’s no problem in that,” he told the gathering at Belur Math.

The PM said the dispute that had arisen over CAA had made the world aware of persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan. “Our initiative to amend Citizenship Act has created a dispute. It is the result of our initiative that Pakistan will now have to answer why they have been persecuting minorities for the last 70 years. Human rights have been demolished in Pakistan,” he said, adding some people with political interests were spreading rumours about the new citizenship law.

A day after meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the PM attacked her, saying the state was unwilling to implement central schemes since these didn’t benefit ‘syndicates’ or involve ‘cut money’.

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Updates on Upcoming Event → Budget 2020

Bill Gates congratulates government on Ayushman Bharat, Modi thanks him

The government had recently said that 6,85,000 beneficiaries have availed free healthcare in the first 100 days of the scheme.

Latest News: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates Thursday congratulated the government for the achievements made by the Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme in its first 100 days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Gates, saying the scheme stems out of the government's commitment to provide top quality and affordable healthcare to the poor.

"Congratulations to the Indian government on the first 100 days of @AyushmanNHA. It's great to see how many people have been reached by the program so far," Gates tweeted, tagging the prime minister's office.

The government had recently said that 6,85,000 beneficiaries have availed free healthcare in the first 100 days of the scheme.

In reply, Modi thanked Gates for his appreciation, saying Ayushman Bharat "stems out of our commitment to provide top quality and affordable healthcare to the poor".

Read more → Ayushman Bharat Scheme

Was Narendra Modi waving at an empty train during the Bogibeel bridge inauguration?

A recent video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi waving at a train in Assam has gone viral on social media with many claiming that the prime minister was waving at an empty train for a photo-op.

Narendra Modi was in Assam on December 25 to inaugurate the Bogibeel bridge, the longest rail-cum-road bridge in India after which he also flagged off the Tinsukia-Naharlagun Express.

The Fact is, PM Narendra Modi was not waving at an empty train. Videos and images show people were present in the train.

BOOMLive searched for a video of the event and found a live video on Facebook clearly showing that there were people whom Modi was waving at and the people were also waving back.

Watch the video from 15 minutes. The camera at 15:40 minutes also pans to the train and the train number is visible.

↓ Here is the Video link which shows people were present in the train ↓

Was Narendra Modi Waving At An Empty Train?: A FactCheck

"Light a Diya for Lord Ram this time, work on Ayodhya Temple to start after Diwali": Yogi Adityanath

The statement from the CM came a day after SP leader Azam Khan stated that the UP government will soon announce a statue for Lord Ram in Ayodhya.

Latest News: In a veiled reference to the ongoing Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid case, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday asserted that wishes of scores of Hindu devotees of building a Ram Temple in Ayodhya will soon come true after Diwali.

Speaking at an event in Bikaner, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said, "Light a Diya for Lord Ram this time, work there (Ayodhya) will start very soon. We have to take this up after Diwali."

The statement from the chief minister came a day after Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan stated that the Uttar Pradesh government will soon announce a statue for Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Khan said that Lord Ram's statue, which is likely to be built near the Sarayu river in the temple town, should be constructed taller than the recently-inaugurated 182-meter tall statues of Sardar Vallabhai Patel.

Reportedly, saints in Ayodhya have been pressing for construction of a statue of Lord Ram similar to that of Statue of Unity. Located on Sadhu-Bet Island, Gujarat, the 182-metre tall statue of Unity occupies over 20,000 square metres and is surrounded by a 12 square km artificial lake.

Read full updates → Ayodhya Ram Mandir Dispute

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News Source: BS & Business Standard

Donald Trump unlikely to accept PM Narendra Modi's Republic Day invitation

The sources said India has already shortlisted names of two-three heads of states for extending the invitation to be chief guest at the Republic Day parade.

Latest News: US President Donald Trump is unlikely to accept India's invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations, sources said Sunday.

The US is understood to have conveyed to New Delhi that Trump may not be able to honour the invitation as he will have pressing engagements, including his State of The Union (SOTU) address, around the time India will celebrate its Republic Day.

This comes at a time when Indo-US ties have witnessed some strain after India went ahead and sealed a deal with Russia to procure a batch of S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding US threat of punitive action under CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).

The sources said India has already shortlisted names of two-three heads of states for extending invitation to be chief guest at the Republic Day parade.

Earlier this year, the US announced sanctions against Russia under CAATSA for its alleged meddling in the American presidential election in 2016.

Read full story → Trump Republic Day Invitation

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News Source: BS & Business Standard

Rafale deal very important to me as it is a strategic coalition: Emmanuel Macron

Rafale deal very important to me as it is a strategic coalition: Emmanuel Macron

Multimedia News: French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday cleared his stand on the controversy surrounding the Rafale deal, involving his country and India.

Speaking on the topic, President Macron said, "It was a government to government discussion.

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News Source: BS & Business Standard

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I just want to refer to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi very clearly said a few days ago. I was not in-charge at that time.

I know that we have very clear rules. This contract is part of a board of framework, which is a mediatory and defence coalition between India and France.

It is very important to me because it is a strategic coalition."

↓↓↓ Here is the Video Link ↓↓↓

Politics over Rafale Deal

'Ajeya Bharat, Atal BJP': PM Modi's theme song for 2019 Lok Sabha Elections

The two topmost leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah — made light of the challenge posed by the Opposition’s mahagatbandhan. BJP chief Shah spoke of a 50-year unbroken reign for the BJP. “We will win the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, and there would be none who can oust us for the next 50 years,” Shah told his party’s National Executive.



2019 Lok Sabha Elections: Delivering the concluding speech of the event, the PM gave the slogan of Ajeya Bharat, Atal Bhajapa (victorious India, steadfast BJP) to his party for the 2019 polls, and asked party workers to win each and every polling booth.
In the morning, the National Executive passed a political resolution that presented the party’s agenda of building a New India by 2022 that would be free of casteism, corruption, communalism, and terrorism. It said the Opposition had no agenda other than ‘Modi roko’.

In a reference to the Nehru-Gandhi family of the Congress party, Modi said the alternative before people was his 48-month rule versus that of 48 years of one family. The PM accused the Opposition, particularly the Congress, of fighting the electoral battle based on “lies and falsehood”, which should be refuted strongly by spreading the message of his government’s performance.

Ajeya Bharat, Atal BJP

In his speech, the PM said the BJP has ruled Gujarat for 31 years, and it was inspired by a sense of service and development, and not arrogance. He said the party has remained steadfast in its principles, but its strategy is dynamic. Modi said an effective Opposition is necessary for a healthy democracy, but does not see any challenge for 2019.

The PM said today’s Opposition was a failure in government, and is a failure in Opposition as well. He suggested that one family served none but itself in its 48-year rule. Modi said the Congress was fighting the electoral battle based on lies, and asked party workers to defeat this by presenting facts to the people. Modi said the Congress had given the slogan of ‘garibi hatao’, or poverty alleviation, but ended up nationalising coal mines and banks, but some years later admitted its mistake and started walking on the path of reform. “We need to expose Congress party’s lies,” Modi told party leaders.

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Ajeya Bharat, Atal BJP

'Rafale Scam' a direct deal between Modi and failed industrialist: Congress

The Congress also alleged that Modi-led Prime Minister's Office (PMO) connived to help jeweller Mehul Choksi escape from India.

Latest News: The Congress party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of behaving like a 'medieval monarch' in getting a failed Indian industrialist the contract to manufacture Rafale fighter jets. The Congress also alleged that Modi-led Prime Minister's Office (PMO) connived to help jeweller Mehul Choksi escape from India.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was yet to react to these allegations at the time of filing of this report. Congress spokesperson S Jaipal Reddy, who heads the subgroup of the party to study the Rafale fighter jet deal, alleged that the 'Rafale scam' was a 'direct deal between PM Modi and the industrialist', whose only distinction is that he has 'spectacularly failed as an industrialist'.

What is Rafale Deal Controversy

Over the past few days, Congress party leaders have fanned out across the country to hold press conferences on the 'Rafale Scam'. Reddy alleged that since Modi announced the deal in Paris, and in the spirit of 17th century French monarch Louis XIV, who famously said 'I am the State', the Indian PM also behaved like a 'medieval monarch' to ignore all defence procurement procedures to snatch away the Rafale deal from the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to gift it to a particular industrialist with no experience in defence manufacturing.

Reddy said the price negotiation committee was not consulted, the cabinet committee on security was not consulted. “We do not know whether the Air Force was consulted?” Reddy asked. On the argument that the French have supported India on crucial junctures and the deal was a strategic decision, Reddy said it was a global tender to purchase the fighter jets and the price and specifications are the only concern. “We don’t mix foreign relations with financial decisions. That only monarch can, prime ministers cannot. The PM is accountable to Parliament. He can be summoned...continue reading

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News Source: BS

It's official! PM Narendra Modi to launch India Post Payments Bank on August 21

IPPB would become one of the largest banking networks in India. India Post has 154,000 post offices, of which 139,000 are in rural areas.

Latest News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) on August 21. The event will take place at the capital's Talkatora stadium.

The bank is running pilot services in Raipur and Ranchi. It will tie up with other banks and financial companies to offer loans, mutual funds and insurance policies, said sources. The Department of Posts was one of the 11 entities to get the in-principle nod from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2015 for setting up a payments bank. Many private firms such as Airtel, Fino, Paytm, etc, have launched these services. But IPPB missed the September 2017 deadline to open 650 branches because it failed to get a system integrator (SI) on board.

India Post Payments Bank

IPPB would become one of the largest banking networks in India. India Post has 154,000 post offices, of which 139,000 are in rural areas. The government is planning to utilise 650 branches to serve as controlling offices for servicing and monitoring post offices. These branches will be linked to IPPB by the end of this year.

An account holder can deposit up to Rs 100,000, withdraw cash, and make payments just like a savings bank account in any other commercial bank. However, to overcome the limitation of Rs 100,000, the bank has received permission to link around 170 million post office saving banks (POSB) account. Whenever a deposit in IPPB account exceeds Rs 100,000, it can be transferred to POSB. There are 370 million different types of accounts at post offices, which will be linked to IPPB gradually, according to sources.

The IPPB will also provide doorstep banking services. These will be chargeable. There are around 250,000 dak sevaks and another 50,000 postmen available in the network. Initially, 11,000 postmen will provide these services and…continue reading

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News Source : BS

Fate of the nation must not be allowed to hang by the horn of a cow

The lynchings then are explicitly the front line of forces seeking to retain power in 2019 - a campaign where the political is brutally intended to ride on a fake spiritual.

Latest News : There is the Brahminical belief that the surest way to cross the perilous Vaitarni river on the way to heaven is to hang by the tail of a cow.

Well, what do you know, this seems equally true of crossing the majority mark in the Lok Sabha.

Consider the statement by an RSS leader that cow-related lynching will stop only if people ceased to consume beef. Clearly, Indresh Kumar seems privy to things on the ground that we merely speculate about.

An even more explicit admonition has come from Vinay Katiyar: Muslims ought not to touch cows. What could be a more no-nonsense enunciation of the right-wing political bottom line.

Cow Lynching

Had the cow been wholly a subject of faith and not of politics, Kiren Rijiju, a cabinet minister at the Centre, could hardly be spared by the lynch mobs, having declared that he eats beef and will continue to do so. Or Manohar Parrikar, chief minister of Goa, for saying beef will be available in the state. Nor would the fortunes of beef-eating Meghalaya have remained unaffected had the Bharatiya Janata Party’s political stakes there not been so high.

The lynchings then are explicitly the front line of forces seeking to retain power in 2019 – a campaign where the political is brutally intended to ride on a fake spiritual.

You may shout hoarse that this cynical praxis not only conceals the failure of the Narendra Modi government on multiple fronts, but bids fair to cause a grievous long-festering wound to the body politic. For whom it is fatally important to hold on to the reins of state power – a well-defined and well-understood political-ideological legacy informing that imperative – anything is par for the course. Any new fake morality may be constructed to...continue reading

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News Source : BS

Grand alliance against BJP is like 'band, baja, barat' without groom

Naqvi also sought to blame the Congress over Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's recent emotional outburst.

Politics of India : The proposed "Mahagathbandhan" (grand alliance) against the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls looks like a "band, baja, barat" without a groom, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Monday.

There would be no vacancy for the prime minister's post in 2019. "The 'Mahagathbandhan' is like the 'band, baja, barat' are ready but the groom is absent. There are nearly two dozen candidates who are staking claim for the post of prime minister," he said.

Several parties such as the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), along with other outfits, are planning to form a front to counter the BJP in the 2019 general election.

Grand Alliance Against BJP

Naqvi took a dig at the Congress for projecting Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate after the recent extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting and later withdrawing his name, apparently due to reservations expressed by other parties.

"The Congress first announced that its prime ministerial candidate was Rahul Gandhi. However, within 12 hours, they withdrew it. This could be the first such incident, wherein the Congress withdrew it (Gandhi's name) within 12 hours. It was withdrawal even before nomination. This is how the 'Mahagathbandhan' looks like," the minority affairs minister said.

Naqvi also sought to blame the Congress over Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's recent emotional outburst, when the JD(S) leader said he was swallowing the pains of running a....read more

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News Source : BS

Tax payers will pay Rs 1 trn to 'Mr 56's friend' for Rafale deal: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi had alleged on Friday that "Mr 56's friend" would actually benefit "$20 billion", equivalent to Rs 1.30 trillion, through offset contracts in the Rafale deal.

Rafale Deal Row : Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the tax payers would have to pay Rs 1 trillion over the next 50 years to "Mr 56's friend" for maintaining the 36 Rafale aircrafts that the country was buying.

Gandhi has been taking a swipe at Modi using the "56-inch-chest" remark that the latter had made at elections rallies in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress had also been questioning the prime minister about when he would show that "broad chest" while dealing with Pakistan and China.

"Over the next 50 years, Indian Tax Payers will pay Mr 56's friend's JV, 100,000 Cr to maintain 36 Rafale Scam jets, India is buying," Gandhi tweeted.

Rafale Scam Row

The Congress chief attached an investor presentation of Reliance Infrastructure, saying there was "truth" in it, which would soon be denied "as usual" by Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a press conference.

Gandhi had alleged on Friday that "Mr 56's friend" would actually benefit "$20 billion", equivalent to Rs 1.30 trillion, through offset contracts in the Rafale deal.

The Congress has been attacking the BJP government over the Rafale deal, alleging favouritism in granting the offset contract to Reliance Defence in violation of the rules. It had accused Modi and ......read more

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News Source : BS

International Yoga Day 2018: Indian forces do asanas falling from 15,000 ft, inside submarines

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the International Yoga Day 2018 celebrations at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun.

World Yoga Day 2018 : Yoga at 15,000 feet in the air and practicing asanas under the ocean’s waves. That’s how India’s armed forces celebrated International Yoga Day.

While the world celebrates the fourth edition of the International Yoga Day on Thursday, India’s brave and bold have participated in their own unique way.

Wing Commander KBS Samyal and Wing Commander Gajanand Yadav, instructors from the India Air Force’s Paratroopers Training School, practiced Yoga at 15,000 feet in the air. IAF’s official twitter handle posted pictures of the duo practicing asanas as they hurtled towards the ground, with their parachutes yet to be deployed.

However, the IAF isn’t alone in pioneering high-altitude Yoga. Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel also celebrated Yoga Day in the cold desert of Ladakh at an altitude of 18,000 feet, reported news agency ANI.

Submarine staff belonging to the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command also participated in Yoga Day celebrations. News agency ANI posted a visual of Navy personnel performing asanas in what appeared to be the cramped confines of a submarine.

The Indian Army’s soldiers at the Siachen base camp are also celebrating International Yoga Day, with Isha Foundation’s Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev there to train them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday led the International Yoga Day 2018 celebrations at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Read More → International Yoga Day 2018

PM Narendra Modi posts exercise video after Kohli’s challenge, nominates Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy

Modi says he also walks “on a track inspired by the Panchtatvas or 5 elements of nature…” The PM appealed to every Indian to “devote some part of the day towards fitness”.

Latest News : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday shared a video that showed his morning exercises, including yoga and breathing practices, responding to Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli, who had thrown a fitness challenge at him.

On Twitter, Modi said he also walks “on a track inspired by the Panchtatvas or 5 elements of nature – Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vayu, Aakash. This is extremely refreshing and rejuvenating”.

The Prime Minister appealed to every Indian to “devote some part of the day towards fitness”.

In a separate message, he nominated Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, table tennis player and 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Manika Batra and the “entire fraternity of brave IPS officers, especially those above 40” for the #fitnesschallenge, which has become a talking point on Twitter.

On May 23, Kohli had posted a video of his workout and nominated Modi, a strong proponent of yoga. The cricketer had accepted the challenge of Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who too had posted an exercise video.

I have accepted the #FitnessChallenge by @ra_THORe sir. Now I would like to challenge my wife @AnushkaSharma , our PM @narendramodi ji and @msdhoni Bhai for the same.

Watch Video → Narendra Modi Fitness Video

4 years of Narendra Modi: More Indians in airplanes now than in AC trains.

With India emerging as the third largest aviation market, air passenger traffic growth has been in the range of 18-20 per cent over the past three years.

Latest News – The number of flyers in India is more than those travelling in AC coaches of trains, documents released to mark the fourth anniversary of the Narendra Modi government show.

With India emerging as the third largest aviation market, air passenger traffic growth has been in the range of 18-20 per cent over the past three years.

“For the first time, more people travelled in airplanes than in AC trains,” according to the document, titled ‘saaf niyat, sahi vikas’ (clean intent, right development).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while presenting the government’s report card at a rally in Cuttack last Saturday, had drawn the people’s attention to the rapid growth of the civil aviation sector in the country.

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Also Read : Some hits, some misses in Modi’s first term

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The Aviation Ministry is targeting a five-fold increase in passenger trips to one billion per annum in 15-20 years. The civil aviation sector will also see the addition of 1,000 aircraft in the Indian skies in the coming decade from about 550 aircraft today.

The document also said that domestic air passenger crossed 100 million in 2017. It said the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 has been unveiled to transform the sector.

Under the present dispensation, the Civil Aviation Ministry had launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme or UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) to provide air connectivity to smaller towns and hilly terrains at affordable prices.

The ministry has claimed the scheme as a major success and pushing the number of operational airports in the country to about 100.

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Read More → 4 years of Narendra Modi

After Virat Kohli’s ‘Fitness Challenge’, Rahul Gandhi dares Narendra Modi to cut petrol prices

So far, Virat Kohli, Amitabh Bachchan, Modi, Hrithik, Kiren Rijiju, Piyush Goyal have taken up the challenge.

 

Latest News : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accepted a fitness challenge by cricketer Virat Kohli saying that he will soon post a personal fitness video. Earlier on Wednesday, Kohli, in a tweet, challenged Modi in a fitness campaign initiated by Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on social media.

“Challenge accepted, Virat! I will be sharing my own #FitnessChallenge video soon,” Modi tweeted on the initiative called the ‘Hum Fit Toh India Fit’ challenge.

On Wednesday, Kohli, who posed for his fitness video in a gym, tweeted: “I have accepted the #FitnessChallenge by @ra_THORe (Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore) sir. Now I would like to challenge my wife @AnushkaSharma , our PM @narendramodi ji and @msdhoni Bhai for the same. #HumFitTohIndiaFit #ComeOutAndPlay.” Earlier, the Olympian shooter Rathore initiated an online fitness campaign and posted his exercise regime on the social media.

He further challenged Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan, cricketer Virat Kohli and badminton player Saina Nehwal to post their respective fitness mantras on the social media.

So far, Kohli, Amitabh Bachchan, PM Modi, Hrithik Roshan, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, and Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal have taken up the challenge and posted messages and videos supporting the cause.

After Virat Kohli’s ‘Fitness Challenge’, Rahul Gandhi dares Narendra Modi to cut petrol prices on Business Standard. So far, Virat Kohli, Amitabh Bachchan, Modi, Hrithik, Kiren Rijiju, Piyush Goyal have taken up the challenge.

Rathore does push-ups to spread fitness message ‘Fitness Challenge‘:

• Rathore made a pitch for exercise on Twitter and urged netizens to share pictures and videos on the site to show how they kept fit.
• “Whenever I see the prime minister, I get inspired…He wants all of India to be fit,” Rathore said in the video.
• “Post pictures and videos of how you keep yourself fit and send a #FitnessChallenge to your friends on social media,” he tweeted.

Rahul dares PM for ‘Fuel Challenge‘:

• As Narendra Modi accepted an online fitness challenge from Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, Congress president Rahul Gandhi was quick to dare the prime minister for a “fuel challenge”, asking him to reduce the spiralling fuel prices in the country or face a nationwide stir by his party.
• “Dear PM, Glad to see you accept the @imVkohli fitness challenge. Here’s one from me: Reduce fuel prices or the Congress will do a nationwide agitation and force you to do so. I look forward to your response,” Gandhi wrote on Twitter using the hashtag ‘FuelChallenge’.

Karnataka Election Results 2018: 77 newly-elected MLAs have criminal background; BJP tops with 42

Out of the 77 newly-elected legislators who have declared criminal cases against themselves, 54 MLAs have declared serious criminal cases, like murder and attempt to murder.

Karnataka Election Results 2018 : There has been a steady rise in the number of MLAs with a criminal background in the Karnataka assembly. Among the 221 newly-elected MLAs, 77 (35%) have declared criminal cases against themselves, of which 54 MLAs have declared serious criminal cases, like murder and attempt to murder.

In 2013, the Karnataka assembly had 34% of MLAs having criminal cases against them, while in 2008, the proportion of elected MLAs with a criminal background was 24%.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has bagged the highest number of seats at 104, has 42 (41 per cent) MLAs with criminal backgrounds, followed by the Congress at 23 out of their 78 and 11 of the 37 elected legislators of the Janta Dal (Secular) have declared criminal cases against themselves.

When it comes to wealth, a majority of elected MLAs cutting across party lines have made the cut as millionaires, with 215 out of the 221 MLAs declaring assets of Rs 10 million and more.

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Also Read : Yeddyurappa takes oath as Karnataka Chief Minister

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Overall, almost 50% of the total number of elected MLAs have declared assets worth Rs 100 million and above. In comparison, out of the 218 MLAs analysed during Karnataka 2013 assembly elections, 203 (93%) MLAs were millionaires, while in 2008, the proportion of millionaires among elected legislators was 63%, said the ADR analysis.

The three MLAs with the highest assets are from the Congress – N Nagaraju (Rs 10.15 billion, D K Shivakumar (Rs 6.4 biilion), and Suresh B S (Rs 4.6 billion).

Reflecting a skewed gender balance, there are only seven women among the 222 newly elected legislators, compared with five in 2013.

When it comes to educational qualifications, 61 per cent or 135 of the elected legislators are graduates or above, 36 per cent or 80 of them have declared themselves as Class V-XII pass, one MLA has said he is ‘literate’ while one has not declared anything.

Age-wise, a majority of the 135 MLAs (61 per cent) are between 41 and 60 years old, 64 or 29 per cent are between 61 and 60 years old, only 15 MLAs are between 25 and 40 years old and three are above 80 years old.

Read More on → MLAs with Criminal Background

B S Yeddyurappa takes oath as Karnataka Chief Minister: Top 10 developments

In a joint petition in Supreme Court, the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) had sought a stay on the oath-taking taking ceremony of BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Yeddyurappa.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader B S Yeddyurappa took oath as the 23rd chief minister of Karnataka on Thursday after the Supreme Court, in a post-midnight hearing, decided not to put a stay on the swearing-in.

Top BJP leaders, including Union Ministers JP Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan and Prakash Javadekar were present at Raj Bhavan in Karnataka during the swearing-in ceremony.

Earlier, while hearing a plea filed by Congress, the Supreme Court refused to stall the swearing-in of Yeddyurappa. The court, however, made it clear that the swearing-in and the government formation would be subject to the final outcome of the case before it.

The top court sought the letters which Yeddyurappa had written to Karnataka Governor informing him his election as BJP legislature party and posted the matter for further hearing at 10.30 am on Friday.

In a midnight legal push, the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) had approached the Supreme Court seeking an immediate intervention by the chief justice to stay the move, which it termed as an “encounter of the Constitution”.

The Congress urged Chief Justice Dipak Misra to hold an urgent hearing on Wednesday night itself since Yeddyurappa is slated to take oath as chief minister at 9 am on Thursday.

In a joint petition, the two parties had sought a stay on the oath-taking taking ceremony of BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Yeddyurappa.

The Governor on Wednesday invited Yeddyurappa to form the government, as the saffron party has emerged as the single largest party with 104 seats. Along with one independent MLA, the Bharatiya Janata Party has staked the claim at forming the government.

However, they are still short of the halfway mark of 112 by seven MLAs.

Whereas Congress-JD(S) alliance has 115 MLAs, just above the halfway mark.

“BJP has 104 seats, how will they prove majority on floor, even if they get some independent MLAs? Only way out is to bring Congress and JD(S) MLAs with them, either by using muscle power or buying MLAs. We have filed a petition urging Governor to give us a chance,” Javed, lawyer of the JD(S) and Congress.

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Latest Updates on → Karnataka Election Results 2018

Karnataka Election Results 2018: Hung house in Karnataka; Congress and BJP spar over poaching rumors; Updates

After results to the Karnataka Assembly election 2018 threw up a hung Assembly on Tuesday, both BJP and Congress-JD(S) combine are targetting each other with allegations of poaching of legislators.

Karnataka Election Results 2018 : A day after the Karnataka Assembly election results threw up a fractured mandate, some members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were reported to be claiming that they were in touch with several of elected members of legislative Assembly (MLAs) from the Congress and the JD(S), and that the BJP would definitely form the next government in the state.

The BJP, apparently, is in talks with at least seven of the 10 Lingayat legislators of the Congress who are unhappy with the party for dividing the Lingayat community votes and are unwilling to accept Kumaraswamy, a Vokkaliga, as their chief minister. Sources in the BJP told Business Standard that the party was also in touch with about half a dozen JD(S) MLAs who might be willing to abstain from voting at the time of the floor test.

Congress leader D K Shivakumar, while talking to news agency ANI, said that the party had a plan and that they were facing a lot of pressure with the BJP trying to poach Congress MLAs.

Also Read : BJP Falls Short Of Majority; Cong-JD(S) Stitch Alliance

In the Karnataka Assembly election 2018 results, the BJP emerged as the single largest party, with 104 seats, but it fell short of the halfway mark of 112 in the 224-seat state Assembly by 9 seats. Congress ended up as the second-biggest with 78 seats, and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) stood third with 38 seats. The Congress and the JD(S) decided to come together to form a coalition government.

At present, the ball is in the court of Governor Vajubhai Vala, who will decide which side would be invited to form the next government. According to an NDTV report, both sides would meet the governor again on Wednesday to make their case stronger.

Karnataka Assembly election 2018 saw a record 72.36 per cent of the 50.7 million (5.07 crore) voters exercising their right to franchise. Of them, 27,908 electors in defence services voted through postal ballots. The Election Commission had deployed 16,662 personnel for counting of votes amid tight security.

Four of the seven polling agencies had predicted in their exit polls that the BJP would emerge as the single-largest party. While most exit polls predicted a hung Assembly with the BJP ahead, two had said the BJP would either come very close to or cross the halfway mark of 112 seats. The India Today-Axis exit poll had said the Congress might bag a majority. All exit polls had given the H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) nearly two dozen seats or more. The JD(S), however, beat that projection by bagging 37 seats.

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Karnataka Election Results 2018: Karnataka fate hangs in balance; BJP or Congress, who will have the last laugh?

While the BJP emerged single-largest, it was the JD(S) which turned kingmaker helping the Congress keep power in a crucial southern state.

Karnataka Election Results 2018 : Karnataka is headed for a spell of political instability as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged the single-largest party with 104 seats after the just-concluded Assembly elections, but could not reach the halfway mark of 112. The Congress, with 78 seats, acted with swiftness and agility, contacted the H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(S), with 38 seats, offered the smaller party chief ministership and stitched up an agreement to forestall an understanding between the JD(S) and the BJP.

At the time of filing this report, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had remained non-committal on the claims of the parties, asking them to wait until the official tally is declared. Constitutional experts said the Governor was not obligated to call the single-largest party for a first stab at forming a government though the majority must be tested on the floor of the House.

As was widely expected, while the BJP emerged single-largest, it was the JD(S) which turned kingmaker, helping the Congress keep power in a crucial southern state. The BJP’s jubilant mood, when the initial results first poured in, turned to gloom as it became clear that the halfway mark was going to elude it. A scheduled press conference by party President Amit Shah was called off, a lunch party organised at the BJP headquarters was cancelled and drum players, who had congregated at the headquarters in Delhi, were asked to go home in a matter of hours. Bouquets of flower lay piled up forlornly at the headquarters, testifying to the disappointment of workers.

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Also Read : BJP vs Congress-JD(S): Karnataka’s fate now in Governor’s hands; highlights

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It was clear from initial reactions in Bengaluru and Delhi that the BJP was not interested in tying up with the JD(S) to form a government at any cost. The Congress, which had indicated on Monday that it was ready to be flexible about the top job (with former chief minister (CM) Siddaramaiah announcing that he was ready to accept a Dalit CM) got top leader Sonia Gandhi to call Gowda and persuade his son Kumaraswamy to become CM with the Congress’ backing to keep the BJP out. Although the JD(S) has roughly half the number of seats the Congress has, it grabbed the offer of chief ministership eagerly.

The BJP claimed it had the mandate to form the government. But the Congress and the JD(S), which together have a few seats more than the saffron party, retorted that they had got the mandate to prevent the BJP from forming a government. In a sense, the Congress did a BJP on the BJP. In Goa, Meghalaya, and Manipur elections in 2017, the BJP tied up with smaller parties and Independents under the nose of the Congress, though the party was single-largest, and managed to form a government, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. “The Supreme Court ruled in the case of Goa, Meghalaya, and Manipur that a single-largest party does not automatically qualify to form the government,” Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said in defence of the Congress-JD(S) claim to form a government.

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