Page 1435 - Politics
Guaido calls for mass protests ahead of return to Venezuela Monday
Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido called for mass protests across the country against President Nicolas Maduro on Monday as he announced his return after a week touring Latin American allies. His reappearance in Venezuela would pose an immediate challenge to the embattled Maduro, who will have to decide whether to arrest him for defying a travel ban -- thereby provoking strong international condemnation -- or allow him to enter unmolested, which would undermine his authority, analyst say. "I'm announcing my return to the country. I am calling on the Venezuelan people to mobilize all over the country tomorrow at 11:00 am (1500 GMT)," Guaido said in a Twitter message Sunday. Guaido, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries as interim president, gave no details of when or how he would return, though speculation is rife that a flight from the Colombian capital Bogota to Caracas is the most likely route. However, its possible that he plans to slip across the border with ...
Our workers will retaliate if our democratic rights snatched: Bengal BJP chief
After flare-ups in various pockets in West Bengal as police baton-charged and detained BJP workers participating in the "Vijay Sankalp" bike rallies, the party's state chief Dilip Ghosh on Sunday said his party workers would retaliate if their democratic rights were curbed.
Modi chairs National Security Council meet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a meeting of the National Security Council.
BJP-Congress slugfest continues over IAF strikes
The IAF air strike in Pakistan remained at the centre of political slugfest on Sunday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the Opposition for questioning the counter-terror operation while the Congress hit back by accusing the BJP of playing politics over national security.
Need to increase people's participation in LS polls, says BJP leader Pinky Anand
There is a need to ensure that more and more people participate in the coming Lok Sabha polls, said BJP Legal Cell national convenor Pinky Anand here on Sunday.Addressing lawyers at the party office in Nampally, Anand underlined the importance of the country's democratic system and the role the BJP has played in this regard since the party came to power at the Centre in 2014."There is a need to educate lawyers in view of many new amendments in the Constitution, which have taken place. We are proud of the fact that India is the largest democracy in the world, and we exercise our right to choose our own Prime Minister. We will choose (Narendra) Modi ji again as our Prime Minister."She said the lawyers should have an agenda set for ourselves for the elections. "We as lawyers can help capacitate, explain and convey people. Aadhaar helped in a direct subsidy and has played a big role in our society. Ayushman Yojana is another good scheme," said Anand. She also hailed the decision of ...
Only 12 passengers book tickets on first Samjhauta Express post air strike
Only 12 passengers booked tickets for the first Samjhauta Express on Sunday after the aerial strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force on terror launch pads in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26.Out of 12 Pakistani passengers, 10 of them are travelling in sleeper class while two of them are travelling in an AC coach.Manoj Kumar, Inspector, Railway Protection Force told ANI, "A total of 12 passengers are going. All of them are from Pakistan. We have taken more security measures than usual. The luggage of all passengers was checked by a dog squad."A Pakistani couple- Naseemuddin and Ameena Begum- who are travelling from Delhi to Pakistan said they were unable to attend a family function for which they had come here, owing to heightened tension between India and Pakistan."We have been married for 36 years. Ameena is from Agra, while I am from Pakistan, although my parents belonged to Agra. We have come to meet our family. We had a visa till April 6 but we are forced to leave, she could .
South Korea to convene NSC meeting to discuss Hanoi summit
South Korea's President Moon Jae-in will be convening a National Security Council (NSC) session here on Monday to discuss the outcomes of the now-concluded US-North Korea summit held in Hanoi, Vietnam on February 27 and 28.The foreign, unification and defence ministers are expected to brief Moon during the session which will be held at Cheong Wa Dae, the Presidential compound here, according to the President's spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom.The Prime Minister of South Korea, Lee Nak-yon, Chief of the National Intelligence Service, Suh Hoon, and Moon's Chief of Staff, Noh Young-min, will also be in attendance for Monday's meeting, reports Yonhap News Agency."Now our role has become even more important. My administration will closely communicate and cooperate with the United States and North Korea so as to help their talks reach a complete settlement by any means," Moon had remarked after the Hanoi summit.The South Korean President had held an emergency telephonic conversation with US ...
Masood Azhar is alive, claims Pak media
Contrary to speculations, media in Pakistan has claimed that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar is alive, quoting sources close to his family.Social media has been abuzz with reports about the JeM chief's alleged death, with many quoting liver cancer as the reason for his supposed demise.Dispelling this, Geo News reported that Azhar is very much alive, without elaborating on the current state of his health.Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on February 14, which claimed the lives of over 40 CRPF personnel.Following this, there has been mounting global pressure against Islamabad to stop harbouring terrorism on its soil, with the United States telling Pakistan to stop providing support and a safe haven to terrorists and terror outfits in the immediate aftermath.Meanwhile, India conducted an anti-terror strike on a major JeM camp in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26."In this operation, a very large number of ...
US, S Korea to replace Key Resolve drills with Dong Maeng exercise
South Korea and the United States will be launching a new nine-day Dong Maeng exercise on Monday to replace their Key Resolve drills, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command (CFC) announced on Sunday.The announcement comes a day after Seoul and Washington decided to end the annual Key Resolve and Foal Eagle drills in a bid to keep the dialogue alive with Pyongyang after the US-North Korea summit ended abruptly in Hanoi last week."Dong Maeng, which means alliance in English, has been modified from the previously held spring exercises Key Resolve and Foal Eagle and will focus on strategic, operational and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula," a statement quoting Seoul's JCS Chairman, General Park Han-ki, and CFC Commander General Robert Abrams, noted."These exercises are crucial in sustaining and strengthening the alliance," they said.Both the sides added that the upcoming exercise is imperative for armies to
PM Modi chairs National Security Council meeting
In view of the heightened tensions between Pakistan and India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired the meeting of National Security Council (NSC) here, which was attended by the members of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).Among those present in the meeting were National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.The NSC meeting, which comes two days after Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was detained by the Pakistani Army, returned home on March 1, took stock of the prevailing security situation.Wing Commander Abhinandan, flying the MiG 21 Bison, was chasing Pakistani F-16 fighters which had transgressed into the Indian airspace. In the process, his plane crossed over to Pakistani side and was shot down. Although he ejected safely, the pilot was taken into custody by the .
Narendra Modi's willpower made Indian jawan return from Pak in 24 hours: Amit Shah
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Sunday said Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman returned from Pakistan within 24 hours owing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's willpower.Addressing a gathering here, Shah said, "Earlier our jawans used to be beheaded and insulted but today, situation is such that when our jawan fell in Pakistan while shooting down an F-16, within 24 hours he was back. This change is because of Narendra Modi's will power."Speaking about his long association with PM Modi and the latter's working style, Shah said, "I know Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 1980. I learned a lot of things from him. He had nurtured party workers all over India. When Narendra Modi took the post of chief minister of Gujarat, he didn't even have the experience of winning a village headman election. However, even at a time when the state was affected by the massive earthquake tragedy, he provided excellent leadership and took it on a path of ...
United States ascertaining if Pak used US-built F-16 to target India
The United States is trying to ascertain if Pakistan used US-built F-16 fighter aircraft in its attempt to target military establishments in India recently.The Indian Air Force lost one Mig 21 in aerial engagements, when a "large package" of Pakistan Air Force breached the Indian air space west of Rajouri in Sunderbani area on February 27."We are aware of these reports and are seeking more information," Reuters quoted a US Embassy spokesperson as saying. "We take all allegations of misuse of defence articles very seriously," the spokesperson added.India has asserted that there is enough evidence to show that multiple F-16 aircraft were used in the mission."Parts of AMRAAM Air to Air missile which is carried only on Pakistan F-16 were recovered from Indian territory in Rajouri. IAF remains vigilant, committed and ready to combat any eventuality," Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said in a media briefing on Thursday.Visuals of the cover of AMRAAM missile fired from Pakistani F-16 aircraft ...
Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja's wife Rivaba joins BJP
Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja's wife Rivaba Jadega on Sunday joined the BJP in Gujarat's Jamnagar.Rivaba joined the BJP in the presence of Gujarat cabinet minister R C Faldu, MP Poonamben and MLA Bakubhai Jadeja in Jamnagar ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state.This comes months after Rivaba and her husband met Prime Minister Modi at his official residence in New Delhi.Last year, Rivaba was appointed as the head of Karni Sena's women's wing in Gujarat.
Schools, mosques, orphanages kept outside scope of seizures, sealing: J-K govt
Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday said schools, mosques and orphanages have so far been kept outside the scope of seizure and sealing in the wake of the ban imposed by the Centre on Jamaat-e-Islami (Jammu and Kashmir).Jammu and Kashmir government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said, "Schools, mosques and orphanages have been kept outside the scope of seizures and sealing in the wake of the ban imposed by the Government of India on Jamaat-e-Islami, J-K.""Action is being taken against offices, assets, properties and other equipment of the banned organisation," Kansal said in a statement, adding that the ban is for five years and subsequent orders to do so have been issued by the state government and the Deputy Commissioners.Jamaat-e-Islami (Jammu and Kashmir), which has been banned by the Central government, is the main organisation responsible for the propagation of separatist and radical ideology in Kashmir valley, informed government sources on Friday.Sources asserted that the ...
Nara Lokesh accuses PM Modi, KCR, Jagan Reddy of targeting firms offering IT services to TDP
Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and YSRCP president Jaganmohan Reddy of targeting companies that offer IT services to the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the state.Taking to Twitter, Lokesh said: "With no guts to face @ncbn directly, with evil politricks failing to stop the development of AP, with all the lies & spreading of rumours failing to stop the construction of Amaravati, the 3 Modis (Modi, KCR & Jagan) are now targeting companies that offer IT services to the TDP."The minister also accused the Telangana Police of harassing the companies that have been said to be hired to curate the information whose complete rights are held by the party."They are trying hard to steal the information of the registered party members and Seva Mitras. The Telangana Police are harassing the companies that have been hired to curate the information whose complete rights are held by the ..
Complaint filed against Kumaraswamy for remarks on air strike
A complaint has been filed against Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in Badavanahalli Police station in Tumkur district over his remarks on the air strike carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Pakistan.However, Kumaraswamy on Sunday, while clarifying his stance, said the BJP should understand the importance of maintaining peace in the country and of not politiciing the air strike carried out by the IAF on February 26."On the day of the air strike by the IAF in Pakistan, the BJP people tried to give an impression that they themselves conducted the airstrikes and not the IAF. On this, I reacted; the BJP must understand it is important to maintain peace in the country," Kumaraswamy told media.The clarification from the Chief Minister came after Kumaraswamy reportedly questioned why there were terror attacks during the NDA government's rule while none occurred when his father HD Deve Gowda was Prime Minister."Why were there no instance of terrorists carrying out blasts or ...
Jayant accuses Odisha government of stalling development projects worth Rs 1.36 lakh crore
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha on Sunday accused Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led BJD government of stalling development projects worth Rs 1.36 lakh crore in the state."The BJD government is not following cooperative federalism because they do not believe in it but we believe and the GST is the biggest example of cooperative federalism. Development projects worth of Rs 1.36 lakh crore have been affected due to lack of support from the state government," said Sinha here at an event.The Union Minister said the BJP should be voted to power at the Centre and in Odisha as "double engines" speed up development in the state."That is why Odisha need BJP's 'double engine' government at the Center as well as in the State for the development. There are many development projects, which were initiated by the Central government, are on hold because of unavailability of land and environmental clearances," he said."The Central government is trying its best for the ...
Democracy ensures king's foolish son doesn't become ruler: Shah
Accusing opposition parties of promoting dynastic politics, BJP president Amit Shah Sunday said that a democratic system was adopted in the country so that a "foolish son" of a monarch did not come to power. Opposition parties have made a mockery of democracy by creating a new dynastic system where every leader's son succeeds him, he said. Shah was speaking at an event organised by the Jain International Trade Organisation to raise funds for the Pulwama terrorist attack victims. "What was wrong with the king and his kingdom? It had only one problem. Even if the king's son was a fool, he would succeed the king," Shah said, without naming any politician or party "But should someone become prime minister just because he is my son, irrespective of whether he has any capability?" Shah asked. Saying that the momentum of development under the Narendra Modi government needs to continue, he sought another fifteen years to turn India into a superpower. "For the first time in 70 years, politics .
'JEI schools, mosques, orphanages kept outside scope of seizure: JK admin'
The Jammu and Kashmir government Sunday said the schools, mosques and orphanages being run by banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) have so far been kept outside the ambit of seizure. The clarification came hours after National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said the ban on JEI "is having a major social impact" in Kashmir and appealed to the government to "urgently review" its decision to seal schools and mosques run by it. "Schools, mosques and orphanages have been kept outside the scope of seizures and sealing in the wake of the ban imposed by the Government of India on Jamaat-e-Islami, J&K," state government spokesman Rohit Kansal clarified this evening. He said the action is being taken against offices, assets, properties and other equipment of the banned outfit. "The ban is for five years and subsequent orders to do so have been issued by the state government and the deputy commissioners." The Centre Thursday banned Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir for five years under ...
Cong targets Centre over Pulwama attack, asks how explosives reached there
Targeting the central government over the Pulwama terror attack, the Congress Sunday asked how explosives reached the area and why a civilian vehicle was allowed to enter the road when a huge CRPF convoy was moving. Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera also wondered why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent for over two hours after the terror attack in Pulwama which left 40 CRPF personnel dead on February 14. Addressing a press conference here, he said. "As a responsible opposition, we will raise questions. Our first question: how did RDX reach there? Our second question: why a civilian vehicle was allowed to enter that road when a huge CRPF convoy was moving?" Over 40 CRPF personnel were killed on February 14 in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden vehicle near their bus, one in a convoy of 78 moving from Jammu to Srinagar. Jammu and Kashmir is under President's Rule now. "Our third question is to Prime ...