Page 135 - Politics
Surgical, air strikes displayed intent, capability; will take all possible steps for security: Prez
Asserting that national security is the government's "topmost priority", President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday said India has amply demonstrated its intent and capabilities through surgical strikes and Balakot air strikes, and in future too, all possible steps will be taken to ensure security. Kovind said the government is rapidly taking forward the work of modernisation of the Army and the armed forces. In this regard, the country is going to receive its first Rafale fighter aircraft and the Apache helicopters in the near future, he said. "New India will be sensitive and also economically prosperous. But for this to happen, the nation's security is of utmost importance. My government accords topmost priority to national security. Therefore, effective steps are being taken to tackle terrorism and naxalism," the President said in his address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament. Constitutionally, the President is the head of the state as well as the government. "India has ...
Govt. accords top most priority to national security : President Kovind
"New India will be sensitive and also, economically prosperous. But for this to happen, the nation's security is of utmost importance. My Government accords top most priority to national security. Therefore, effective steps are being taken to tackle Terrorism and Naxalism," he said in his customary address to joint sitting of Parliament."India has amply demonstrated both her intent and capabilities, first through surgical strikes and then through air strikes after the Pulwama attack at terrorist hideouts across the border. In future too, all possible steps will be taken to ensure our security," the President said.44 CRPF personnel were killed in a suicide bomb attack on February 14 at Pulwama when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the CPRF convoy, following which Indian air force fighter jets crossed over to Pakistan on February 26 and attacked Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist camp in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to avenge the deadly ...
Macron sends senior diplomat to Iran to defuse US tensions
President Emmanuel Macron sent his top diplomatic adviser to Iran this week as part of European efforts to defuse tensions between Tehran and Washington, the French presidency said Thursday. The adviser, Emmanuel Bonne, held "high-level meetings" Wednesday in Tehran, "with the aim of contributing to the deescalation of tensions in the region", Macron's office said. The presidency refused to say whom Bonne met, adding only that he left Tehran on Wednesday evening. The strains between Washington and Tehran increased Thursday with Iran's announcement that it had shot down a US "spy drone" that violated Iranian airspace near the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has yet to respond. The incident marks the latest escalation in tensions following last week's attacks on two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, which the United States blamed on Iran. Tehran has denied any involvement. Tensions between the longtime foes, who have had no relations since the hostage crisis that followed the ...
Iran Revolutionary Guard shoots down US drone amid tensions
Iran's Revolutionary Guard shot down a US drone Thursday amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over its collapsing nuclear deal with world powers, American and Iranian officials said, though they disputed the circumstances of the incident. The Guard said it shot down the drone over Iranian airspace, while two US officials told The Associated Press that the downing happened over international airspace in the Strait of Hormuz. The different accounts could not be immediately reconciled. Previously, the US military alleged that Iran had fired a missile at another drone last week that was responding to the attack on two oil tankers near the Gulf of Oman. The US blames Iran for the attack on the ships; Tehran denies it was involved. The attacks come against the backdrop of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran following President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from Tehran's nuclear deal a year ago. Separately, Saudi Arabia said Thursday that Yemen's ...
President's address to joint session of Parliament was repeat of words, says Congress' Anand Sharma
Congress on Thursday slammed President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of Parliament as a mere "repeat of words" of the last five years.Commenting on the President's address, senior party leader Anand Sharma said, "the President's address was a repeat of words, high sounding words which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government are very fond of.""In the past five years, we have heard words like standup India, startup India and Make in India, while the manufacturing and investments have declined to historic lows," he added.Sharma, who is the deputy leader of the Congress in Rajya Sabha, said, "The President's address does not give an account of unfulfilled promises of the last 5 years made to our youth and farmers. It did not include anything on unemployment. We want manufacturing to be high and India to become the manufacturing hub but for that lot of work needs to be done.""When the debate starts on President's address on Monday, we will be speaking in detail in .
Modi to lead International Yoga day celebration at Ranchi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the International Day of Yoga from Ranchi on Friday with all arrangements being in place at the Prabhat Tara ground. Since 2015, the International Day of Yoga is celebrated annually on June 21. Yoga connects people and with the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi world has adopted yoga, an official release quoting Chief Minister Raghubar Das said here Thursday. It is a matter of great pride that the Prime Minister will participate in the main programme of International Yoga Day in Ranchi. The state government is putting all efforts to make the programme success. Good arrangements have been made for the participants, Das said. During one of his previous yoga day speeches, the Prime Minister had said yoga has become one of the most powerful unifying forces in the world. The Prime Minister will reach Ranchi Thursday night, stay at the Raj Bhavan and participate in the fifth International Yoga day programme at 6 a.m. Friday, ...
Stop arresting me, it will create fear: Pak's ex-president Zardari
Pakistan's former president Asif Ali Zardari, appearing in Parliament on Thursday for the first time after being arrested in a corruption case, called for an end to his arrest, saying it would not make a difference rather create fear among the people. Zardari, who is in the custody of the anti-corruption body National Accountability Bureau (NAB), appeared before the house after the National Assembly Secretariat issued a production order to attend Parliament session. He said that it is time to stop the accountability and arrests, and move forward, Geo News reported. The 63-year-old co-chairman of the Opposition Pakistan Peoples Party and husband of the country's first woman prime minister Benazir Bhutto was arrested by the NAB from his house last week in a multi-million dollar money laundering case, hours after the Islamabad High Court rejected his bail plea. A seemingly disappointed Zardari said that putting him behind the bars would not make any difference. "My arrest will not make a
US State Secy Mike Pompeo to visit India on June 25
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit India from June 25-27, the first high-level engagement between India and the United States after NDA's return to power for a second term."It will be the first high-level engagement with the United States after elections in India. During his visit, Pompeo will hold talks with the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and will also call on other dignitaries in the Government of India," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said here on Thursday.Pompeo's visit will provide "an important opportunity for both sides to explore further ways to strengthen India-US strategic partnership", he said.Kumar noted that the two sides will hold high-level engagements on matters of mutual interest including bilateral, regional and global issues.In addition, Pompeo's visit will further prepare grounds for a summit meeting between US president Donald Trump and Prime Minister Modi in Osaka, Japan, on the sidelines of the G20 meeting scheduled
Siddaramaiah has never tolerated any big and good leaders, says JDS leader Vishwanath
Launching a scathing attack on the state government's coordination committee chief Siddaramaiah, former Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) president H Vishwanath on Thursday said that former Chief Minister is trying to end the political careers of those who speak against his "vindictive attitude, style of functioning and failures.""He has never tolerated any big or good leader. He tried to even end my political career," said Vishwanath, while talking to ANI.He held Siddaramaiah responsible for Bengaluru MLA Roshan Baig's suspension. "He wrote against Roshan Baig for personal reasons, which is not the right thing to be done by any leader," he said."He calls himself an Ahinda leader and then he creates a platform to suspend Ahinda members," he added further.Talking about the non-allocation of portfolios to newly inducted ministers -- R Shankar and Nagesh ---, he said: "Portfolios for more than 350 JDS shares are vacant. Around 14 posts of presidents and chairmen of different bodies are vacant. ...
Europe seeks compromise candidate for top EU job
European leaders will try once again Thursday to agree on a compromise EU leader after political groups failed to unite behind one candidate. None of the leading names to have emerged during last month's European election has won consensus support from the four main parliamentary parties to become president of the European Commission, the EU's powerful executive arm. This lowers the threat that Thursday's summit will turn into a stand-off between rival capitals, but could also delay efforts to fill Brussels' top job. "I remain cautiously optimistic, as those I have spoken to have expressed determination to decide swiftly," EU Council president Donald Tusk said. Tusk chairs EU summits and has set his colleagues the task of agreeing on a nominee to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as Commission head. Other jobs up for grabs include speaker of the European Parliament, which will sit for the first time on July 2, and foreign policy chief. National leaders want to control the process and dole ..
Told Rahul I was hurt by utterances of Cong, JD(S) leaders: Gowda
Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda Thursday said he told Congress president Rahul Gandhi that he has been hurt by the repeated public utterances of some leaders of the grand old party and his JD(S) about the coalition government in Karnataka. Gowda's reaction comes in the backdrop of leaders of the state's ruling Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition repeatedly airing their differences publicly following the alliance's drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls in the state. The two parties managed to bag only one Lok Sabha seat each in the polls, while the BJP won 25 of the 28 seats in the state. "At least here, afterwards (induction of independents in the state cabinet), there should not be any public reaction by my party or Congress," the JD(S) supremo told reporters here. Two Independent MLAs were recently inducted into the Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy-led cabinet with an apparent goal to strengthen the 13-month-old coalition. Gowda said he told Gandhi, "From day one I am watching, I'm
Modi 2.0 promises strong, safe, all inclusive India
Obtaining a massive mandate in elections, the government on Thursday promised to build a strong, safe and all-inclusive India and take all steps to ensure the country's security while giving a fresh push to "One Nation, One Election" concept.Outlining the Modi government's vision in its second term, President Ram Nath Kovind, in his customary address to joint sitting of Parliament, said the the building of a "Strong, Safe, Prosperous and All-inclusive India" is inspired by the basic spirit of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Vishwas' (With all, development for all and with everyone's trust)."In his nearly hour-long speech in the Central Hall of Parliament which, was repeatedly cheered by MPs of the ruling NDA combine with loud thumping of desks, the President spoke of the achievements during the first tenure of the Modi government and enumerated the steps to be taken to put the country on firm footing on basis of its political, social and economic agenda.Referring to the Pulwama ..
Two Canadian naval vessels sail through Taiwan Strait: Taipei
Two Canadian naval vessels sailed through the Taiwan Strait, Taipei's defence ministry said, in the latest naval passage likely to irk Beijing. The ships sailed through the narrow waterway separating the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in a "freedom of navigation" operation, the ministry said in a statement issued late Wednesday, without providing any details. It added that Taiwan's military had closely monitored the "movements of the relevant aircraft and vessels in the region" as the ships passed through the strait. Relations between China and Canada have deteriorated since December when police in Vancouver detained Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou on a US arrest warrant. Days later China arrested two Canadians -- former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor -- in what is widely seen as a tit-for-tat move. China has also blocked Canadian agricultural shipments worth billions of dollars. It was the latest such naval voyage in the Taiwan Strait in recent ...
Govt for strong, safe, all-inclusive India: Kovind
Declaring the government's resolve of making a "strong, safe, prosperous and all-inclusive" India, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said it was working with a spirit of "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas Aur Sabka Vishwas" (with all, for all, with everyone's trust)."My government is committed to that very idea of nation-building, the foundation for which was laid in 2014. While fulfilling the basic needs of the countrymen, now the government is moving forward towards realising their aspirations of building a strong, safe, prosperous and all-inclusive India," he said in his customary address to a joint sitting of Parliament.This journey, he said, is inspired by the basic spirit of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas Aur Sabka Vishwas'.Kovind quoted from the sayings of Kerala's noted spiritual leader Narayana Guru to assert that the government is committed to making India a place where people can "live like brothers free from the discrimination of caste and religion".Kovind said that the people's ..
Decision on number of seats to be contested in Hry will be taken at appropriate time: SAD
Having recently forged an alliance with the BJP in Haryana, the Shiromani Akali Dal Thursday said the decision on number of seats it will contest in the forthcoming assembly elections in the state will be taken at an appropriate time. Amid reports that the SAD was seeking a good chunk of seats to contest the Haryana assembly polls, which are due in October, party's senior leader and in-charge for state affairs Balwinder Singh Bhunder said, "The decision on number of seats we will contest will be taken at an appropriate time when we will sit together with our ally." Senior SAD leader Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra had in Delhi on Wednesday said his party was in a position to win 30 seats in the 90-member Haryana Assembly or make those contesting these seats win. "There are 30 seats which we can win or make those contesting these seats win," he had told reporters. Bhunder clarified that the SAD has not put any demand before the BJP on number of seats it wants to contest in the state. "The .
President pushes for 'One Nation, One Election'
President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday gave a fresh push to the "One Nation, One Poll" idea, calling it the need of the hour to accelerate development and asked all MPs to seriously ponder over it."During the last few decades, due to frequent elections being held in some part of the country or the other, the pace and continuity of development programmes have been impacted.""Our countrymen have demonstrated their wisdom by delivering a clear verdict both at State and National issues. 'One Nation - Simultaneous Elections' is the need of the hour, which would facilitate accelerated development, thereby benefitting our countrymen," he said in his customary address to a joint sitting of Parliament after the general elections.With such a system in place, Kovind said all political parties, according to their respective ideologies, will be able to better utilise their energy towards development and public welfare."Therefore, I urge all Members of Parliament to seriously ponder over this ...
Bengal Cong infighting out in open, several leaders skip rally
The infighting in the Bengal Congress came to the fore on Thursday, as several prominent members of the party's state unit skipped a protest march called by senior leader Abdul Mannan in the wake of alleged deterioration in the law and order situation. The Leader of Opposition in the assembly led the march from Esplanade area in central Kolkata to city police headquarters Lalbazar, seeking an end to political clashes in the state and alleged attack on party workers. State Congress president Somen Mitra, legislator Sankar Malakar and senior leader Deepa Dasmunshi were among those who were conspicuous by their absence at the rally. According to sources in the party, the protest march was organised without the permission of the state leadership. "The march had nothing to do with the state Congress. Had it been called by us, we would have surely participated in the rally," said a senior Congress leader. Reacting to the allegation, Mannan said "those keen on fighting the TMC ..
Bihar: NIA raids residences of LJP leader's brother, kin
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided the residence of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Sunil Pandey's brother here.The raid is still underway, said sources.The NIA team reached the residence of the brother of Pandey at Shastri Nagar early in the morning.Simultaneously, the NIA is also conducting raids at Ara residence of Pandey's another relative.Pandey, a former MLA of Janata Dal-United (JDU), joined the LJP recently. Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan heads the LJP. The reason for the NIA raid is yet to be ascertained.
Vietnam invites Russian experts to help preserve embalmed 'Uncle Ho'
Vietnam has enlisted a team of Russian and local experts to help preserve the body of embalmed revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, whose corpse has lain in a sprawling concrete monument in central Hanoi since his death nearly 50 years ago. Uncle Ho, as he is affectionately known in Vietnam, enjoys demi-god status in the country, revered as the communist hero who led his country to independence. His embalmed corpse lies in state in a massive concrete tomb in Hanoi, modelled after Lenin's mausoleum in Moscow's Red Square. Hanoi has now set up a state council of 11 specialists -- four from Russia, the rest Vietnamese -- to "evaluate the status of the body of president Ho Chi Minh", according to a statement on the government's official website. The council must propose "technical methods and plans... to long preserve and ensure absolute safety to the body of president Ho Chi Minh in the years to come," said the decision endorsing the council, signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Ho ..
UK court tells government to 'reconsider' Saudi arms sales
A London court on Thursday handed a partial victory to campaigners trying to halt British arms sales to Saudi Arabia over the kingdom's bombing campaign in Yemen. The Court of Appeal ruling does not immediately halt UK arms sales or suspend existing licenses. But judge Terence Etherton said the UK government "must reconsider the matter" and weigh up future risks. The government had "made no concluded assessments of whether the Saudi-led coalition had committed violations of international humanitarian law in the past, during the Yemen conflict, and made no attempt to do so," Etherton ruled. Prime Minister Theresa May's office said she was "disappointed that the court found against the government on one ground" and would seek an appeal. Trade minister Liam Fox was expected to make a statement in parliament later in the day. The UK-based Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) non-profit first launched its court battle against the government in December 2015. Thursday's judgement came in ...