LIVE: BJP expels Jaswant Singh - Rediff.com India News

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Sat, 29 March 2014

LIVE: BJP expels Jaswant Singh

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BJP expels its senior leader Jaswant Singh for six years.

Angry over denial of ticket to him in the Lok Sabha elections, Jaswant Singh had filed his candidature as an independent from Barmer seat which has been given by BJP to recent entrant from Congress Sonaram Choudhry.

The US National Security Agency's vast eavesdropping programmes amassed more than 300 reports on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Der Spiegel reported Saturday, citing information leaked by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

Merkel was on a list of some 122 heads of state and government about whom the NSA gathered intelligence in May 2009, the German weekly reported on its website.

22:22 Thai protesters stage mass anti-govt rally

After a brief lull in anti- government protests against embattled Thai Premier Yingluck Shinawatra, tens of thousands of demonstrators today marched through Bangkok demanding her resignation.

People's Democratic Reform Committee leader Suthep Thaugsuban led protesters to the Lumpini Park after the seven-hour march on the eve of elections for the upper house of parliament, whose members could decide Yingluck's fate.

Aam Aadmi Party today accused Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of going "overboard" in "chasing" Tehelka founder editor Tarun Tejpal but failing to arrest ministers involved in illegal mining scam.

"You (Parrikar) have chased Tejpal enough. But you have yet to arrest ministers involved in mining scam," AAP leader and South Goa candidate Swati Kerkar said addressing a public meeting.

A local court today acquitted all 51 accused, including a BJP MLA, due to lack of evidence against them in connection with the 2002 Radhanpur town riot case in which two persons were killed.

Additional Sessions Judge Girish M Damodar said in its order that it was acquitting all the accused, including 25 persons from Muslim community besides MLA Shankar Chaudhary, for want of evidence.

Security forces today recovered an AK-47 assault rifle and ammunition after suspected militants opened fire on a Road Opening Party (ROP) in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, a defence spokesman said.

Some unidentified gunmen fired at the ROP of the Army near New Colony locality of Palhalan in Pattan, 27 kms from here, on Srinagar-Baramulla road around 8:30 am, the spokesman said.

In a second ruling against Turkey's ban on Twitter, a Turkish court has overturned an order for the social media network to remove an account that accuses a former minister of corruption.

Turkey last week suspended access to Twitter, which has been a conduit for links to recordings suggesting government corruption. It then blocked access to YouTube following the leak of an audio recording of a government security meeting.

21:00 Sonia to address rally in Delhi tomorrow

In its attempt to regain the lost ground in Delhi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi will address a rally here tomorrow, just 10 days ahead of Lok sabha polls which will decide the fate of seven seats of the city.

"The party has made an elaborate preparation to make the rally at Ajmal Khan Park in Karol Bagh a huge success so that a message can be sent that the party is on the path of winning hearts of people again," Mukesh Sharma, chief spokesperson of Delhi Congress said.

Russia has said it has no intention of invading eastern Ukraine, but a top politician from Kiev told Fox News Saturday that there is "still a huge possibility that Russia could invade and seize Ukrainian territory.

"Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk voiced his concern as Russia's military takes positions on the country's border. Yarsenyuk, however, expressed some optimism for a diplomatic solution after an hour-long phone call Friday between President Obama and President Vladimir Putin.

20:35 Magnitude-5.1 earthquake shakes Los Angeles

A magnitude-5.1 earthquake was widely felt in the Los Angeles area and surrounding counties Friday evening, but authorities said there were no immediate reports of significant damages or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at about 9:09 p.m. and was centered near Brea in Orange County '" about 20 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles '" at a depth of about 5 miles.

It was felt as far south as San Diego and as far north as Ventura County, according to citizen responses collected online by the USGS.

An Air India plane to Kabul was today diverted back to Delhi after Afghanistan's main airport was closed because of possible dangers to aircraft in the wake of a Taliban attack on the country's Election Commission headquarters nearby.

The Air India plane was diverted along with other planes of other carriers as the Kabul airport was closed, an Air India official told PTI.

Russia today pledged it would not invade mainland Ukraine following its seizure of Crimea and said it favoured the ex-Soviet state becoming a federation as a way of defusing the crisis.

Tensions have run high after Russian President Vladimir Putin ripped up the post-Soviet order with Moscow's lightning takeover of Crimea from Ukraine, with the United States accusing Russia of massing tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine's eastern border.

Describing the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as a divisive leader, BSP supremo Mayawati today expressed fear that the country may witness riots if he wins power at the centre.

"Modi is a downright divisive leader who presided over riots in Gujarat in 2002...the country will be gripped by riots and communal frenzy if he wrests power at the centre," she told an election meeting in Buxar district in favour of Dadan Yadav, the BSP nominee from Buxar.

Syrian President Bashar Assad is quietly preparing the ground to hold elections by early this summer to win another 7-year term, even as the Syrian conflict rampages into its fourth year with large parts of the country either in ruins or under opposition control and nearly a third of the population scattered by civil war.

Amid the destruction, which has left more than 140,000 dead, presidential elections may seem impossible. But Syrian officials insist they will be held on time.

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, under attack from critics for 2002 riots in Gujarat, today said the country did not want "poison of communalism" and needed safety and development instead.

Claiming that people were fed up of promises and empty talk, Modi, addressing a rally, said he had come with the "intent" to deliver.

Targetting Congress, Modi said it had made promises galore but that alone could not bring development or change in the system.

Deploring Congress Lok Sabha candidate Imran Masood's controversial remarks about Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi today said the comments were against the party's ideology.

Without naming Masood, Rahul said he had used similar language against an opposition leader six months ago and he should not have used such language.

Joining issue with Rahul Gandhi who flayed the Gujarat development model as a "new heavier balloon" filled with "gas", CPI today said there were hardly any differences in the economic policies of both Congress and BJP and such 'balloon stories' are not of any use and cannot resurrect the country.

A bomb blast targeting a vehicle carrying security forces killed a minor girl and injured 15 others today on the outskirts of Quetta city in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province.

Militants targeted the vehicle of Frontier Corps (FC) through an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on Quetta's Sariab road area, Superintendent of Police Imran Qureshi said. He said the militants had planted the IED in a rickshaw parked on the road.

18:04 Rahul warms up to mediapersons

Ignoring the security cover after finishing his speech, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today mingled with assembled mediapersons near their enclosure about any problems faced by them during his maiden rally.

Gandhi, who was here to campaign for his party's nominee Raj Babbar, came down from the podium to have a chat with journalists at the Ramlila ground.

"Since how long have you been here? Did you get drinking water? Was it bottled?" he asked a journalist.

Samajwadi Party today criticised BJP over a poster released by Narendra Modi's supporters in this temple town using a "modified" version of a 'shloka' eulogising Goddess Durga.

Senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav told reporters here today that the poster "has hurt the sentiments of Hindus deeply" and added that his party "will expose the true face of BJP which swears by Hindutva and has no respect for the sanctity of traditions".

As Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal is going to spend more time in this temple town from where he is contesting against formidable rival BJP's Narendra Modi, a hunt has begun for a big house by the party volunteers.

"We are looking for a house for Arvindji as he will shift to Varanasi next month," said party spokesperson Ramanand Rai. Kejriwal has not been able to zero down on any particular house and has asked the local party leaders to look for one.

Considering that the house has to be big enough to accommodate Kejriwal's meetings with supporters, party volunteers are looking for a house which has enough space to serve the purpose.

Follow the latest election updates on Twiiter: @RediffElections

The rift in the BJP was out in the open after the induction of Sabir Ali with party leaders and the RSS tweeting their dissent. The BJP was forced to cancel Ali's leadership, a former JD-U leader.

But soon after, BJP chief Rajnath Singh left red-faced after the fiasco asked the BJP members to raise internal issues in the party forum only and not go public.

15:47 I don't feel insulted by the BJP: Sabir Ali

Talking to CNN-IBN Sabir Ali, whose membership was annulled by the BJP, said that he does not feel insulted. "I have faith in my voters. I know where to go."

Follow the latest election updates on Twiiter: @RediffElections

15:25 BJP annuls Sabir Ali's induction

The membership of Sabir Ali has been annulled following a divide in the BJP.

There has been strong objections against induction of Ali for his alleged links to IM terrorist Yasin Bhatkal. The RSS too had raised a voice against his entry in the party.

14:07 Modi basher Imran Masood's bail plea rejected

Congress candidate from Saharanpur Imran Masood's bail plea has been rejected. He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

Masood was arrested for his controversial remark against Narendra Modi.

The Congress candidate was seen in the video as saying that "If Modi tries to make Uttar Pradesh into Gujarat, then we will chop him into tiny pieces..."

Follow the latest election updates on Twiiter: @RediffElections

Ganesh Nadar reports: Anti-nuclear activists S P Udaykumar, M P Jesuraj and M Pushparayan, are contesting on the Aam Aadmi Party tickets from
Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticotin respectively.

Jesuraj filed his nomination from Tirunelveli today. He told rediff.com that Udaykumar and Pushparayan will follow suit.

in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticotin

Udaykumar, convernor of the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, has been leading the protest against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu's Trinuveli district.

In the course of the struggle, 385 cases have been filed against the three activists.

Follow the latest election updates on Twiiter: @RediffElections

A Bharatiya Janata Party delegation met the Election Commission over the hate speech delivered by Congress's Saharanpur candidate Imran Masood. The party has asked the poll panel to take action against Masood as well as the Congress.

Masood was arrested this morning after his remarks to "cut Modi into pieces" went viral.

Follow the latest election updates on Twiiter: @RediffElections

12:22 Sabir Ali asks BJP to put induction on hold

The induction of former Janata Dal-United member Sabir Ali in the BJP has upset quiet a few party members. Rubbishing allegations that he was a 'friend of terrorist Bhatkal', Ali today asked the BJP leadership to put his induction on hold.

Follow the latest election updates on Twiiter: @RediffElections

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has reportedly offered to quit as skipper of the Chennai Super Kings in the wake of the Indian Premier League betting and match-fixing scandal, reports NDTV.

According to media reports, Dhoni is angry that his name has been linked with the scandal and reportedly spoke to N Srinivasan, now suspended by the Supreme Court as the BCCI chief.

Read the full report here

10:31 Red-faced Rahul cancels Saharanpur rally

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi cancels his rally in Saharanpur after candidate Imran Masood was arrested this morning for his caustic remarks against BJP's PM hopeful Narendra Modi.

Masood in a hate speech yesterday threatened to "chop" Narendra Modi "into pieces" .

The Congress distance itself from the remarks.

Follow the latest election updates on Twiiter: @RediffElections

It's an open war within the Bharatiya Janata Party over the induction of Sabir Ali, who was expelled from the Janata Dal-United. After the party's minority face Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tweeted dissent over the new recruit, Ali said, "I will quit politics if found guilty. All the charges against me are baseless."

Naqvi did not name Ali, but posted, "Terrorist Bhatakal friend join BJP...soon accepting dawood........".

The RSS too has expressed its displeasure over Ali's induction. Ram Madhav tweeted: Sabir Ali's induction has caused great resentment. Party leadership has been apprised of d strong views of d cadre n people agnst it.

Follow the latest election updates on Twiiter: @RediffElections

00:47 Inflation soaring in BJP regime: Sachin Pilot

Rajasthan Congress chief and Union Minister Sachin Pilot today attacked the BJP-led state government saying it was cutting down welfare initiatives of the previous government even as inflation was soaring, affecting poor in the state.

Addressing poll meetings in Kekri, he said if the state government did not revoke its decisions after the Lok Sabha elections, Congress would protest against it. Claiming to review, Vasundhara Raje-led government was cutting down welfare measures introduced by the Congress government.

Beneficiaries are now being given only three litres of kerosene against the five litres given by Congress government, and 5 kgs of wheat had been brought down to 1.5 kgs, Pilot said.

00:14 Top headlines of the last 24 hours

Juvenile Justice Act will stay as it is: Supreme Court
BJP should've handled Jaswant issue more gracefully: Yashwant
New row in BJP: Naqvi angry at induction of Sabir Ali
PHOTOS: Terrorists go on bloody rampage near Jammu
Exclusive: Will fight against Modi if party asks, says Digvijaya
Opinion poll: BJP likely get 19 seats in Bihar; JD-U to be reduced to 6

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