Page 1109 - Politics

Acknowledging airstrike in Balakot will put Pakistan in a dilemma, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said if Pakistan accepts India's airstrike in Balakot will put Islamabad in a dilemma as this admission will be confirmation of the presence of terrorist camps across the border."Pakistan is in big trouble. If they say something happened in Balakot, it would mean that have to accept that terrorist camps were being operated from there. They keep telling the world that there is nothing here. We attacked at such a place that they cannot hide," said Prime Minister Modi said while speaking at 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' programme here."We have been suffering from terrorism for the past 40 years. They came and carried out killings in Mumbai and Uri. We know who is responsible for this. I thought that who long all this will go? Then, I decided--Yeh Jahan Se Control Hota Hai, Khel Wahin Khela Jaayega," he said in response to a question about air strike at terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on February 26.The Prime Minister further .

First time after aerial strikes on Pak terror camps, top military commanders to discuss operational readiness

For the first time after it carried out an aerial strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist camp at Balakot in Pakistan, top commanders of the Indian Air Force will discuss the operational readiness and the future course of action at a conference likely to start on April 11.Alongside the Air Force, the Indian Army commanders will also begin deliberations on operational deployment along the Pakistan border and the security there in the Army commanders' conference starting April 8."The IAF commanders including the Chief of Air Staff will discuss the security situation and the ongoing tension with the Pakistani military at the meeting," said defence sources.More than a month after the IAF attacked targets in Pakistan's Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunwa, Pakistan has restricted its commercial flying fearing another such attack by the Indian side.It is maintaining high alert along the border with India and its fighter jets have been carrying out extensive patrolling along their side of the border and

Rahul goes to Kerala to win on politics of polarisation: Amit Shah

Congress party president Rahul Gandhi has gone to Kerala "in a bid to win on the politics of polarisation," said BJP president Amit Shah here on Sunday."I read on WhatsApp that Rahul Gandhi has run towards Kerala, leaving Amethi behind. Why has he escaped to Kerala? All of you know that this time Rahul Gandhi is done in Amethi. So he is going to Kerala in a bid to win on the politics of polarisation," said Shah here, while addressing an election rally.Shah's statement comes in the wake of the Congress' announcement that Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala along with Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.He said the Congress has pinned a terrorist tag on Hindus. "You can't hide the truth. This judgment has proved that Swami Aseemanand and others are not guilty," he said.A special court in Panchkula recently acquitted all four accused in Samjhauta Express blast case, as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) failed to prove any of the charges against ...

BJP did nothing to solve flood problem in Assam: Cong leader

The Assam Congress on Sunday accused the Narendra Modi government of doing nothing to solve the state's perennial flood problem, and destroying its economy. Addressing a press conference here, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Ripun Bora alleged that the BJP-led central government did not announce a single new project for the state in the last five years. "What has Modi done to solve the flood problem of Assam? You (BJP government) only organised 'Namami Brahmaputra' and 'Namami Barak' by bringing the priests from Haridwar. Is that all for the flood problem?" the Rajya Sabha member asked. On the industrial front, the senior Congress leader said the prime minister "stripped" Assam of the 'special status' tag. "It is a big blow to the economic development of Assam. There was a distinct industrial policy of Assam, but that was withdrawn," he said. Bora also said that the Centre abolished the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) 2007, ...

Rahul Gandhi targets PM for not fulfiling promies to AP

Congress President Rahul Gandhi Sunday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 'not fulfiling' the promises to Andhra Pradesh and YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on alleged corruption, even as he flayed Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over 'mismanagement' of the state. At the same time, Rahul repeated his promise of according Special Category Status and building a strong AP the moment the Congress came to power at the Centre. Special category status was the central point of his campaign rallies in the two places even as he touched upon other national issues like the proposed Nyay scheme, attacks on dalits and minorities, making doing business easy for youngsters, economic frauds, farm loan waiver and education reforms. You know the mismanagement that has taken place in AP. You know the state is struggling, the Congress president said, addressing his first election campaign meeting in Vijayawada in the morning. He also spoke about the 'corruption' of Jagan ..

Yangon votes in historic municipal elections

Voters in Myanmar's former capital Yangon cast their ballots on Sunday, first time, to directly elect a municipal administration. The municipal government of the city with five million residents is being elected through the universal suffrage, first time in Myanmar's history, the Efe news reported.

Saudi Arabia hacked Jeff Bezos' phone: Security chief

Saudi Arabia has hacked Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos' smartphone and allegedly shared personal information about his extra-marital affair to a media outlet, a veteran security consultant at the tech giant has said.

Congress govt failed students, farmers, poor: AINRC

The AINRC Sunday charged the Congress government in Puducherry with having "failed" students, farmers and the poor by not implementing any productive schemes. During a campaign trail in Kalapet Assembly constituency, AINRC leader N Rangasamy said Chief Minister V Narayanasamy had been at loggerheads with Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and the Centre, which was a "clear attempt on his part to escape his responsibility of measuring up to the expectations of the people." Rangasamy, who is also Leader of the Opposition claimed, "Puducherry isa Union Territory and as per the statutory provisions the Union Home Ministry is having full constitutional control over Puducherry." "Narayanasamy knows this fact very much. But he has been playing political drama to cover up his failure by blaming the Lt Governor and the NDA government," he said. Rangasamy also recalled that he had evolved and implemented several developmental programmes by having cordial relations with the Lt Governor and ...

Lekhi most vocal, Tiwari least among MPs from Delhi

Lok Sabha MP from North East Delhi Manoj Tiwari, though very vocal in public remained almost silent in Parliament in the past five years in comparison with his fellow MPs from the national capital.

BJP feels lesser need for glamorous faces in Bengal

Five years back, BJP's Bengal plan centred around roping in big names from the glamour world and then reaching out to the people at large by cashing in on their celebrity status. The party's appeal till then was confined to a section comprising its core supporters, and large chunks of the Bengal society were largely indifferent to the saffron outfit.

Priyanka insulted Hindus in Ayodhya trip: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday accused Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi of insulting Hindus by not going to the makeshift Ram Temple during her visit to Ayodhya.

Took decision for Balakot as 'game' should be played from where terror being controlled: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he took the decision for the Indian Air Force to conduct Balakot air strikes as he thought that "the game" should be played from where terrorism is being remote-controlled. Addressing a 'Main bhi Chowkidar' event, he said Pakistan is in a fix because if it acknowledges the air strikes, it will have to accept that there was terror camp there. "They have been saying that there are no terror camps. Now they have to hide it. They are not allowing anybody to go there. We've been told Balakot area is being reconstructed by Pakistan to show that a school is being run there, so that people can be taken there and shown that no terror camp existed there," he said. Those abusing Modi on Balakot air strikes are helping Pakistan with their statements, he said. The event was beamed across the country at 500 places where gatherings of BJP workers, professionals, chowkidars (watchmen), traders, farmers among others will listen to Modi and interact with him .

Devendra Kumar Tiwari appointed new Jharkhand chief secretary

Devendra Kumar Tiwari was appointed as the new chief secretary of Jharkhand, an official notification said here Sunday. The 1986-batch IAS officer who now holds the post of development commissioner, succeeds Sudhir Tripathi, who retired on Sunday. Additional Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh, presently with the Planning-cum-Finance department, has been appointed the new Development Commissioner, the notification said. The Election Commission has approved the state government's proposal for the new appointments, an official spokesman said.

Bikaner LS seat: Cong fields cousin against Union minister Arjun Meghwal

The contest for the Bikaner Lok Sabha seat is a fight within the family as BJP candidate and Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Congress' Madan Gopal Meghwal are cousins. While Congress candidate is in the fray for the first time, the BJP candidate Arjun Ram Meghwal will be contesting to retain the seat, which has been the saffron party's stronghold from the last 15 years. Actor Dharmendra had represented the seat in 2004. Both the candidate have served the government through administrative services. Arjun Ram entered politics in 2009 after resigning from the IAS whereas Madan Gopal took VRS from IPS before the assembly election in 2018. Arjun Ram is two consecutive times BJP MP from Bikaner seat. He had defeated Congress's Shankar Pannu with over 3 lakh votes in 2014 Lok Sabha election and considered a heavyweight in the BJP. He is elder son of my aunt (Mausi) and is also elder to me. We believe in different ideologies. I am a strong Congress worker whereas he is a staunch BJP man.

TNCC hails Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Wayanad

The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) Sunday hailed party chief Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Wayanad in Kerala, besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, saying he was acting as a 'bridge' to join the north and the south. TNCC President K S Alagiri, who had earlier urged Gandhi to contest from Tamil Nadu for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, said the Congress chief's decision to contest from Wayanad is a "matter of pride" for south Indians. "The speciality about Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency is that it borders Nilgiris and Theni in Tamil Nadu and Mysuru and Samraj Nagar in Karnataka." "The decision (to pick Wayanad) by Rahul Gandhi will be seen as him acting as a bridge linking India's north and south," he said in a statement here. It amounts to representing the south Indian people's language, culture and heritage, he said. Earlier Sunday, veteran Congress leader A K Antony had announced in Delhi that Rahul Gandhi will contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in ...

Rahul Gandhi fighting from 2 LS seats out of fear: Guj CM

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is contesting from two Lok Sabha seats "out of fear", Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani said Sunday, adding that the former will be defeated in Amethi by BJP leader and Union minister Smriti Irani. Senior Congress leader AK Antony had announced earlier in the day that Gandhi would also be contesting from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. An upbeat Rupani went on to add that two Rajya Sabha seats will fall vacant from Gujarat as both Irani, from Amethi, and party chief Amit Shah from Gandhinagar, will win their Lok Sabha contests. Both Shah and Irani are Rajya Sabha MPs from Gujarat. "It appears Rahul Gandhi has decided to contest from two (Lok Sabha) seats out of fear (of defeat in Amethi). Smritiben Irani will win," he told reporters. "I believe sentiments expressed by journalists in Gujarat that two Rajya Sabha seats will fall vacant is right. This is why he has decided to contest from two seats," Rupani claimed. Irani, who had put up a ...

Some praise militants in J&K to garner votes: BJP

Nirmal Singh, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said on Sunday some political parties praised Pakistan and militants for votes.

Israel reopens Gaza crossing points amid tensions

Israel on Sunday reopened the border crossing points with the Gaza Strip after six days of closure and amid growing tensions.

Arab summit to showcase unity against Trump's Israel policy

Leaders meeting in Tunisia for the annual Arab League summit on Sunday were united in their condemnation of Trump administration policies seen as unfairly biased toward Israel but divided on a host of other issues, including whether to readmit founding member Syria. This year's summit comes against a backdrop of ongoing wars in Syria and Yemen, rival authorities in Libya and a lingering boycott of Qatar by four fellow League members. Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir skipped the meeting as they contend with mass protests against their long reigns. Representatives from the 22-member league minus Syria aim to jointly condemn President Donald Trump's recognition of Israeli control over the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 war, and Trump's decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. At the opening of the summit, King Salman said Saudi Arabia "absolutely rejects any measures undermining Syria's ...

Centre turns down WB govt plea to retain central forces in

The Ministry of Home Affairs has turned down a plea of Mamata Banerjee government to retain 35 companies of central forces posted in once Maoist-dominated Jangalmahal region in south Bengal, a senior state government official said Sunday. The state government has then written to the ministry to reconsider the decision stating that the move might re-ignite Maoist problems in the region, he said. The forested areas of West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia districts in the southern part of the state forms Jangalmahal. The areas which share border with Jharkhand were once affected by Maoist insurgency. "A second letter has been sent to the Home Ministry a couple of days ago requesting it to retain the forces in Jangalmahal. A special mention has been made in the letter that withdrawal of the forces may re-ignite the Maoist problem in the area which has borders with Jharkhand. We are waiting for a reply from the ministry," the IAS officer said. The ministry, about a ..