Page 1371 - Politics
Rajasthan: Indian Army shoots down drone in Sri Ganganagar
The Indian Army on Saturday shot down a drone which intruded in Sri Ganganagar sector of Rajasthan.The Army said that one Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) intruded in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar sector around 7.30 pm on Saturday."The drone was engaged and brought down," the Army added.This comes after the Army on Friday shot at a Pakistani drone along the international border in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar sector."The Indian Army shot down the drone while it was making an attempt to enter the Indian airspace, "army sources said.This is the fourth Pakistani drone that has been shot at by the Indian security forces since the Indian Air Force carried out air strike at the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan on February 26.On Monday, the second drone was shot down in the Bikaner sector of Rajasthan, while the first drone was shot down on the morning of February 26 after it intruded Indian air space in Kutch district of Gujarat.
LS elections: NCP, Congress leaders hold meeting to chalk out poll strategy
Leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress party on Saturday held a meeting to chalk out the election strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.The meeting was held at NCP leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil's residence in Mumbai.Congress leaders Prithviraj Chavan, Naseem Khan, Ashok Chavan and NCP leaders Jayant Patil, Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal were present there.Jayant Patil, NCP told the media, "Final decision will be taken after Congress' internal meeting in Delhi two days later. Today discussions were held on the role of smaller parties in the alliance. Hitendra Thakur (Bahujan Vikas Aghadi chief) came and asked for support. We have not yet decided on that."NCP president Sharad Pawar on Friday held a meeting with the top leaders of his party.The names of probable candidates, including those for the Aurangabad and Nagar seats, were also discussed during the meeting.The meeting commenced at 10 pm and ended at 2 am. It was attended by Ajit Pawar, Dilip ...
Iran urges Pak to take action against terrorist organisations
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday urged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to take action against the al-Qaeda linked Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group.This comes after tensions between Iran and Pakistan escalated last month following the deadly attack on a bus carrying Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) servicemen which killed as many as 27 and left 13 others wounded. Two Pakistani nationals were suspected of involvement in the crime. Jaish ul-Adl had claimed responsibility for the ghastly attack which happened on a highway in eastern Iran near the Pakistani border.Citing Press TV, Sputnik quoted Rouhani as saying, "We are awaiting your decisive action against these terrorists."Emphasising that Iran was "fully ready to cooperate with the Pakistani Army and government to eradicate these terrorists, whose presence is not in favour of us, you or the region," the Iranian President said, "We should not allow decades of friendship and fraternity between the two countries to be .
Ortega rules out early elections, offers to release political prisoners
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega ruled out a key opposition demand to bring forward elections during peace talks on Saturday aimed at resolving a 10-month long political crisis. However, he did offer to release political prisoners and undertake reforms. The government said in a statement it was "committed to the strengthening of democracy, respect for constitutional order, and taking into consideration that presidential and legislative elections have been established for 2021." The opposition had wanted those brought forward to this year. The government agenda, finally published after eight days of talks, also offers to strengthen freedoms and rights, liberate political prisoners awaiting trial, revise laws to eliminate "impunity" and asks the international community not to apply sanctions. Ortega, his wife Vice President Rosario Murillo and other top regime officials are already subject to US sanctions for rights abuses. The government's move comes a day after the opposition ...
Mulayam Singh with me, want to form alliance with Cong: Shivapal Yadav
Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal Yadav on Saturday claimed that he has the support of Samajwadi Party veteran Mulayam Singh Yadav and that he is keen to stitch an alliance with the Congress party for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He told the media, "I know Neta Ji is with me. I have made this party with his permission. But he is attached to the party that he founded. I had requested to be included in the alliance of secular party. I had requested Akhilesh also. We want an alliance with Congress and have spoken to some leaders of the party as well."This comes after the Samajwadi Party on Friday announced its first batch of six candidates for Uttar Pradesh. The party has fielded Mulayam Singh Yadav from Mainpuri parliamentary constituency.The Congress released its first list for Lok Sabha polls on Thursday that included contenders for 11 seats in UP, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi from their respective constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi.
Venezuela's Maduro says cyber attack prevented power restoration
Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro claimed on Saturday that a new "cybernetics" attack had prevented authorities from restoring power throughout the country following a blackout on Thursday that caused chaos. Maduro told supporters in Caracas that almost 70 percent of power had been restored when "we received at midday another cybernetics attack at one of the generators that was working perfectly and that disturbed and undid everything we had achieved.
EC asks parties to desist from using photo of soldiers in campaign National
The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday asked political parties to desist from displaying photographs of defence personnel in their poll campaign in view of a picture on social media showing image of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in a political poster.
Congress leader Hemanand Biswal's daughter Joins BJD.
In a setback to the Congress party, Sunita Biswal Daughter of former Odisha Chief Minister and Senior Congress leader Hemanand Biswal on Saturday joined the Biju Janta Dal (BJD) in the presence of party supremo Naveen Patnaik.Welcoming Sunita to the party Patnaik said "I am glad that Sunita Biswal along with her supporters joined the BJD, I am sure they will strengthen the Party in Sundarghar"Sunita opined that she has joined the party as she was inspired by Patnaik's welfare schemes."I have joined the BJD after being inspired by Naveen Patnaik's welfare programs for women. I will abide by any decisions taken by the party president," she said.Hemanand, is also the chairman of Congress' Disciplinary Committee and is also planning to contest election.
Election observer shot dead in southeast Nigeria: Police
A local election observer was killed by stray bullet on Saturday in southeast Nigeria's Enugu state, police said. "The man was a local observer monitoring the gubernatorial and house of assembly election," a police officer who did not want to be named, told AFP. "He was hit by stray bullet fired by a policeman to disperse a group of protesters," he said. The police officer said the protesters were pushing for the postponement of Saturday's gubernatorial poll to give more time for Ayogu Eze, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to campaign. Eze who has been facing a legal challenge to his nomination, was only cleared to run by the court on Thursday. Eze's supporters insisted the election should be delayed so that he would have enough time to canvass for votes. Local media also confirmed the killing. At least 10 people were reportedly killed in election-related violence across Nigeria during Saturday's polls. Two weeks ago, 53 people were killed during the presidential ..
South Africa's support post Pulwama indicative of special relationship with India: Outgoing envoy
Describing South Africa as a great friend of India, outgoing Indian High Commissioner Ruchira Kamboj has said its support in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack is indicative of their "special relationship". Kamboj, who has been appointed as Ambassador to Bhutan, said South African Parliament unanimously accepted a motion which not only expressed solidarity with India, but also placed the onus firmly on Pakistan to address the issue of terrorism. In my interactions with members of the South African government, civil society organisations and people from all walks of life in recent weeks, there's been nothing but robust support for India, Kamboj told PTI in an interview. Although the Pulwama attack was condemned globally as an act of terrorism, the South African government was one of the few that specifically identified it as originating in Pakistan, calling on the government there to find and take action against the perpetrators of this dastardly attack", she said. His Majesty King .
We hit terrorists in their backyard after Pulwama: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India hit terrorists in their backyard after the Pulwama terror attack and accused the previous Congress-led UPA government of lacking the courage to take action against Pakistan-based terror groups post the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008.
Intruding UAV shot down in Rajasthan: Sources
A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which intruded into Rajasthan's Ganganagar was shot down by the Army on Saturday, defence sources said. "One UAV intrusion in Ganganagar sector around 7.30 pm. The drone was engaged and brought down," a defence source said. No further details were shared. On March 4, a fighter jet of the Indian Air Force shot down a Pakistani military drone in Bikaner sector of the Indo-Pak border using an air-to-air missile. Another Pakistani drone was shot down by India on February 27 along Indo-Pak border in Kutch in Gujarat. The downing of the drones came in the midst of heightened tension between India and Pakistan after IAF struck a terrorist training camp in Pakistan's Balakot and subsequent retaliation by Islamabad.
Evidence of Pakistan deploying F-16s, one shot down by Abhinandan: India
There are eyewitness accounts and electronic evidence that Islamabad deployed F-16 aircraft in aerial engagement with India, one of which was shot down by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, India said on Saturday.
Congress being arrogant; its candidates will lose deposits: Kejriwal
Days after the Congress said it would go it alone in the general elections, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal Saturday termed the party "arrogant" and claimed that its candidates would lose their deposits in the polls. At a public meeting in the Mustafabad area, Kejriwal claimed his party tried persuading the Congress to forge an alliance, but "it did not understand". Recently, Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit had said there's unanimity in the party against an alliance with the AAP for Lok Sabha polls in Delhi. "Congress (candidates) will lose their deposits in Delhi in Lok Sabha elections," Kejriwal claimed. The Delhi CM, while addressing the gathering in minority-dominated Mustafabad, requested people to make sure that votes don't get split between the Congress and the AAP. "Vote for the AAP in Delhi because only it can defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha elections," he said. Speculation over a pre-poll alliance between the Congress and the AAP still persists, even as .
Another Congress MLA in Telangana defects to TRS
In another jolt to the Congress in Telangana, one of its legislators Saturday announced that he was joining the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
Saudi junior Foreign Minister to visit India on Monday
Saudi Arabias Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir will visit India on Monday to discuss some important follow-ups from the visit of the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to India last month.
Modi, Shah trying to draw 'political mileage' from Pulwama attack: Yechury
CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah, saying they were trying to draw "political mileage" out of the terrorist attack in Pulwama. CPIM along with all opposition parties have said that fight against terrorism is a fight of "United India" against terrorism, he said, while participating in a public rally, here. "Instead of building that unity, the moment Pulwama terror took place and after Indian Air Fore response in Balakhot, we all said we are proud of our Indian Air Force. They have hit the targets. We are proud of our wing commander Abhinandhan who comes from Tamil Nadu", he said. Abhinandhan Vardhaman showed exemplary courage and he was forced to be returned by Pakistan, Yechury said. "All of this happened when the unity of the country was most important. When everybody else expressed that unity, it was Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and BJP President (Amit Shah), who are trying to draw political ...
'Some Delhi Congress leaders are still hopeful of an alliance with AAP'
A section of Congress leaders are still hopeful of forging an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to take on the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections in Delhi where seven seats are at stake, said sources on Saturday."Congress president Rahul Gandhi may call a meeting to review the decision about an alliance with the AAP," they said, adding that the Congress party is also under pressure from other like-minded parties to forge an alliance with the AAP.Those Congress leaders, who are still backing an alliance with the AAP are of the view that the alliance is must for taking on the BJP not only in Delhi but across the country.Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday at her 10, Janpath residence before proceeding to the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) office to meet the party leaders.Though not clear as to what exactly transpired at these meetings, the development comes against the backdrop of a section of Delhi Congress leaders strongly
MP's Cong govt issues ordinance to give 27 pc quota to OBCs
The Madhya Pradesh government Saturday issued an ordinance raising reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) to 27 per cent from the present 14 per cent, state Law and Legal Affairs Minister PC Sharma said. The move is being seen as the ruling Congress' efforts to woo OBCs in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. "The ordinance has been issued and notified," Sharma told PTI. Government officials said the ordinance was sent to Governor Anandiben Patel for her assent on Friday, adding that the move was made to ensure the ordinance could be issued before the Lok Sabha poll model code of conduct comes into effect. With this, MP is possibly the only state in the country to have 27 per cent quota for OBCs, they said. OBCs in the state are generally favourable to the BJP since Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was MP's longest-serving CM having been on the post between 2005 and 2018, is from the community. The BJP is believed to have pocketed more than 50 per cent of OBC votes ..
Modi ruling like a dictator; Cong leader Vijayashanti
Congress leader Vijayashanti Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging he was ruling like a dictator, making people fear 'what bomb he will explode when",an allusion to measures like demonetisation. The veteran actress, who was speaking ata party meeting presided by AICC president Rahul Gandhi, said the coming Lok Sabha elections was essentially a battle between Narendra Modi and Gandhi. Gandhi was fighting for the survival of democracy, while Modi has "ruled like a dictator" during his tenure in a way that killed democracy and troubled the people, the former MP said. "He wants to rule like that in the next five years, but people will not give him that opportunity,"she said in Telugu. "Everybody is scared about the BJP today... they are scared as to what bomb Modi ji will explode when....Appearing like a terrorist," she said. "Instead of blessing the people, (he is) making people fear. This should not be aim of a Prime Minister." On all issues, whether .