Page 1445 - Politics
Offer of plebiscite in J&K no longer relevant: Chidambaram
The offer of plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir had been made under very different conditions, which has entirely changed since then, making it no longer relevant, senior Congress leader P Chidamabaram said here Saturday. Pitching for talks with Pakistan, he said though dealing with that neigbouring nation was "very complicated," there was no other option to avoid war. "Plebiscite was offered under very different conditions, please understand that," he said adding, that since then the conditions have changed in Jammu and Kashmir. Fielding a question from a member of the audience - a DMK functionary - at his "Undaunted: Saving the Idea of India" release event here,he said plebiscite was offered to a 'united Kashmir. Since then the conditions have changed and nearly about one half of Jammu and Kashmir is Pakistan occupied now." The top Congress leader said for about 70 years now Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir were being governed by India and Pakistan ...
OIC calls for 'restraint and de-escalation' in South Asia: Pak FO
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Saturday called for "restraint and de-escalation" in South Asia as well as the need to resolve outstanding issues through peaceful means, Pakistan's Foreign Office said. The OIC is a grouping of 57 countries, majority of which are Muslim. It has usually been supportive of Pakistan and, often sided with Islamabad on the Kashmir issue. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the inaugural plenary of the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC meeting on Friday. She was the first Indian minister to address the OIC meeting. India's participation came despite strong demand by Pakistan to rescind the invitation to Swaraj to address the grouping which was turned down by the host UAE, resulting in Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi boycotting the plenary. On Saturday, the Pakistan Foreign Office said that the 46th session CFM concluded in Abu Dhabi with a resolution that "supported" Pakistan on the ..
Rajasthan to increase grant for cow shelters
At a "Gau Raksha Sammelan" organised here on Saturday, the Congress government announced that it will soon increase the grant for cow shelters to ensure cow conservation in the state.
Terrorism continues to pose serious risk to peace, security: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said terrorism continues to pose serious risk to peace and security in the region and beyond. He also stressed the importance of demonstrable and immediate action by the "concerned" for putting an end to all forms of terrorism and ending all support to it. His remarks came during his telephonic conversation with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who called him up. According to a statement from the prime minister's office, Modi mentioned that India attached great significance to further strengthening its relations with Qatar, which is its close friend. The two leaders discussed the regional situation. The prime minister underscored that terrorism continues to pose serious risk to peace and security in the region and beyond. He stressed the importance of demonstrable and immediate action by the "concerned" for putting an end to all forms of terrorism and ending all support to it. The leaders noted the historic ...
Two Congress MLAs in Telangana decide to join TRS
In a setback to opposition Congress in Telangana, two of its legislators on Saturday decided to join the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
Krishna Tirath to rejoin Congress?
Ex-Cabinet Minister in the UPA regime and Dalit rights activist Krishna Tirath is likely to rejoin the Congress Party, sources said.Tirath on Saturday met former Delhi Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Sheila Dixit in the national capital and reportedly showed her willingness to rejoin the party.This comes at a time when Dixit is aiming to strengthen the Delhi unit of the party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.Tirath, who had been a Minister of State (MoS) in the cabinet of Manmohan Singh government, had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2015. Under the aegis of the BJP, Tirath had contested Delhi Assembly polls in February that year from Patel Nagar seat. However, she was defeated by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Hazari Lal Chauhan.
Snubbed by Congress, AAP announces 6 candidates for Delhi LS seats
After snubbed by the Congress party, Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday announced candidates for six out of seven Lok Sabha seats, which are at stake in the city-state. The party has fielded Raghav Chadha from South Delhi.The name of six Lok Sabha candidates was announced by Minister Gopal Rai at a press conference here, thus bringing all speculations about the Congress-AAP alliance in Delhi to an end. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too had earlier said that there was a limit of waiting and persuading (Congress) to agree to the alliance.The party has fielded Brajesh Goyal from New Delhi, Aatishi from East Delhi, Dilip K Pandey from North East Delhi, Raghav Chadha from South Delhi, Pankaj Gupta from Chandani Chowk, and Gugan Singh from North West Delhi. AAP has not yet announced the candidate for West Delhi Lok Sabha seat.Rai said the Congress president Rahul Gandhi had ruled out any alliance during a meeting held at the residence of NCP leader Sharad Pawar after the ...
Govt should produce evidence of air strike: Digvijaya
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh Saturday urged the Centre to present evidence of the air strike on terrorist camps in Balakot. He also "congratulated" Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for the release of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Speaking to reporters here, the Rajya Sabha MP said, "I am not questioning the recent IAF action against Pakistan-based terrorist camps. "But the pictures of any incident in open space can be accessed through satellite technology. So we should also give evidence, the way the United States government presented evidence before the world on (the killing of) Osama bin Laden," he said. Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the Indian Air Force (IAF) thwarted their plans. "I also congratulate the honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan that he ...
Syria force battles into last jihadist pocket
Kurdish-led forces battled jihadists defending their last village on Saturday as operations to flush out the Islamic State group from eastern Syria resumed after several days of humanitarian evacuations. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces pushed into Baghouz, a tiny hamlet near the Iraqi border where IS fighters have been making a desperate last stand. As the sun rose above the palm trees lining the Euphrates River, the crackle and thud of gunfire and shelling echoed across the countryside while SDF artillery units could be seen taking up positions. Later on Saturday, AFP reporters near the front line could see thick black smoke rising above the heart of the village, which SDF units approached through outlying farms. "The intense fighting continues," spokesman Adnan Afrin told reporters, adding that eight SDF fighters had been seriously wounded in the first few hours of the battle. "It's closer combat now, the distance between us and the jihadists is gone," he said, explaining ...
CM, Bhatt flag off bike rally in U'khand
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and state BJP president Ajay Bhatt flagged off the party's 'Vijay Sankalp' bike rally in different parts of the city on Saturday as part of the BJP's countrywide pre-poll exercise to establish contact with people. The chief minister flagged off the rally from Ranipokhri area and Bhatt from Shivaji Dharmashala area, state BJP media head Devendra Bhasin said. Similar rallies were carried out by BJP MLAs in their respective assembly segments, he said. Talking to reporters, Bhatt said there is great enthusiasm among people for the BJP. "People have seen the valour of our forces in the aerial strike against terror camp in Pakistan and it has further strengthened their faith in the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. "The safe return of our brave Wing Commander Abhinandan from Pakistan has also added to the fervour," Bhasin said.
Pre-emptive air strike raises doubts about 'conspiracy':K'TKA
Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge Saturday claimed the pre-emptive air strike by the Indian Air Force on terror camps in Pakistan has raised doubts among masses about some "conspiracy." The BJP has strongly condemned his statement. "This (IAF air strike) raises doubts among masses that somewhere it is a conspiracy. It is like '44 for 22'.The statement (by BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa) should be presumed that the martyrdom of 44 soldiers were for 22 seats in Karnataka," the social welfare minister told reporters at Chamarajnagar when asked about the air strike carried out on terror camps by the IAF inside Pakistan. His remarks came a day after IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, whose MIG-21 was shot down following a dogfight between the two air forces on Wednesday, was handed over to India by Pakistan after being in captivity for nearly three days. Yeddyurappa had said on February 28 that India's pre-emptive strikes on terror camps in Pakistan had created a wave
AAP announcing LS poll candidates a pressure tactic to force Cong enter into alliance: BJP
The BJP Saturday termed AAP's announcement of candidates for six out of seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi a "pressure tactic" adopted by the national capital's ruling party to "force" the Congress to firm up an alliance with it for the upcoming general elections. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari asserted that his party will retain all the seven parliamentary seats in the city it won in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, no matter whether the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) contests the upcoming polls alone or by entering into an alliance with the Congress. Ending months of speculation regarding an alliance with the Congress for the upcoming general elections, the AAP Saturday declared its candidates for Lok Sabha six seats in Delhi and accused the grand old party of turning down its proposal for a tie-up. While announcing the names of party candidates in the six seats, Delhi AAP convener Gopal Rai, however, hinted that a window was still open for forging an alliance as the party believed that there should be ..
J-K approves creation of 2000 posts of account assistants for panchayats
The State Administrative Council (SAC) has accorded sanction to the creation of 2,000 posts of account assistants for strengthening the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said on Saturday. The SAC, which met under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik here, accorded sanction to the creation of the posts, the spokesman said. The recently amended Panchayati Raj Act envisages devolution of powers, funds and functions to the 4,483 panchayats across the state. "The panchayats are due for receiving substantial funding from the government. Therefore, posting of officials with adequate knowledge of maintenance of accounts and booking expenditure is imperative," the spokesman said. He said the recruitment to these posts would be done by the Services Selection Board through written test and interview. Selected candidates will receive contractual salary for first five years and thereafter get full regular salary, the spokesman said.
Pakistani shelling: BJP delegation visits affected areas along LoC
A BJP delegation visited shelling-hit villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the situation, a party spokesman said. The delegation led by state BJP president Ravinder Raina met the affected families and enquired about their well-being, the spokesman said. Raina, accompanied by former deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, visited Ghagrote, Seri, Deing, Kalal, Ser Makdi, Ladoka, Dungi, Kangri, Kalsian, Bhawani and Lam to take stock of the situation in view of the indiscriminate firing and shelling by Pakistani forces. The BJP leaders held a meeting with the people and party workers to boost their morale and assured full cooperation to the affected people, the spokesman said. Over the past five days, there has been 51 violations of the ceasefire agreement along the LoC by Pakistani forces in Rajouri and Poonch districts, which left four civilians, including three ...
Sheila Dikshit rules out poll tieup with AAP, Cong leadership to take final decision
Even as the Aam Aadmi Party has declared candidates for six of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, the Congress leadership has not ruled out an alliance and a final decision is expected to be taken in the few days, notwithstanding the partys Delhi unit's opposition to any tieup.
Strike on terror camp in Pakistan nothing to do with domestic politics: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said that the strike against a terror camp in Pakistan had nothing to do with domestic politics and accused opposition parties of making statements that people in Pakistan were happy about.
Islamabad should have attended OIC meet: Pakistani editorials
Islamabad should begin its own probe into the activities of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistani newspaper said on Saturday, with two editorials faulting Pakistan for boycotting the OIC meet due to India's presence.
Army chief visits Jammu-based White Knight Corps, reviews security situation
Amid heightened Indo-Pakistan tension, army chief General Bipin Rawat visited the Jammu-based White Knight Corps on Saturday to review the operational preparedness, and exhorted all soldiers to remain vigilant. This is the first visit of the army chief to the region after India's air strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror facility in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday in response to the February 14 strike in Pulwama, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Over the past five days, there has been 51 violations of the ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistani forces in Rajouri and Poonch districts, which left four civilians, including three members of a family, dead and 14 others, including eight security personnel, injured. "The army chief and general officer commanding-in-chief of northern command Lt. Gen Ranbir Singh visited the White Knight Corps to review the operational preparedness of the forces...in view of the current situation ...
Rouhani's visit to Iraq will be 'turning point': Iraq deputy FM
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's maiden visit to Iraq will be a "turning point" in the bilateral relations the two countries share, Iraq's deputy Foreign Minister Nazar al-Khairullah said on Saturday.Rouhani is slated to visit Iraq on March 11."The visit is eagerly anticipated by Iraq's government and people. The two countries share many commonalities and there is much understanding between them, and the visit by Iran's president would be a turning point in their relations since a new cabinet has come to office in Iraq," IRNA quoted Khairullah as saying.In November last year, Iraq's President Barham Saleh had visited Iran while in January, Iran's then Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had visited Iraq.Iran, who has long-standing ties with the US-ally Iraq, had faced a dilemma after Washington levied sanctions on Tehran.Notably, Iraq is Iran's second-largest market after China and purchases everything from food and machinery to electricity and natural gas.Last year, United States ...
2 Pak Army men killed in Indian retaliation along LOC: Pak media
Two Pakistani Army soldiers were killed in exchange of fire with Indian Army along the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, according to Pakistani media.Havaldar Abdul Rub and Naik Khuram were killed in Nakiyal Sector in exchange of fire while targeting Indian posts, the media said quoting Pakistan military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).The Indian Army has been saying that Pakistan has been resorting to unprovoked firing and shelling at military and civilian locations at various places in Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Contol (LoC).Three members of a family were killed Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday in such an action by the Pakistan Army.The Pakistan Army has violated ceasefire at Gawahalan, Chokas, Kiker and Kathi posts in the Uri sector and Mendhar and Krishna Ghati sectors of Rajouri and Poonch' Balakote yesterday.The Indian Army has been retaliating strongly and effectively.