Page 1447 - Politics
Pakistan damaging itself and humanity by aiding, abetting terrorism: Vice Prez Naidu
Lashing out at Pakistan for aiding and abetting terrorism, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said the neighbouring country was damaging itself and humanity by these acts, and underscored that global consensus should be built to focus on eradicating the scourge of terrorism. "Our neighbour is aiding, abetting, funding, training terrorists. They are not able to understand the damage they have done including to the humanity and also to themselves," Naidu said at an event here, without naming Pakistan. He said while India wants to be friendly with all countries and neighbours and has never attacked any country, "If somebody wants to do some mischief, we have to answer and for that the country has to be united". "We cannot allow nations to encourage terrorist activities and harbour terrorist safe havens and training camps," he said. The nation has to work as Team India to build a stronger, more developed country which is capable of defending itself against hostile forces "and ...
'Abhinandan subjected to a lot of mental harassment, though not physically tortured'
A day after his return from Pakistan, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman on Saturday informed the top brass of Indian Air Force (IAF) that he was subjected to a lot of mental harassment, though he was not physically tortured by Pakistan military authorities, said a source.The Wing Commander was also medically examined here, considering the fact that he had ejected after his MiG 21 was shot down in PoK air space while chasing Pakistani fighter planes which had transgressed into Indian air space on February 27. Before his plane was shot, he had hit a Pakistani F-16.Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa met Wing Commander Varthaman at the Army RR Hospital here.During a separate meeting with the Air Chief, Varthaman briefed him about his detention in Pakistan, officials said.Wing Commander Varthaman was expected to be debriefed by the IAF on his detention in Pakistan, which is yet to take place.After a delay of over five ...
NC takes out protest rallies against Centre's move on quota
The National Conference (NC) took out protest rallies in many areas of Kashmir on Saturday, expressing "dismay" over the amendments to the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Order, 1954. The party said the amendments were "a blatant violation of Article 370 of the Constitution", which gives autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir. The central government brought in the amendments for giving reservation benefits to economically weaker sections and for promotion in government jobs to SCs and STs in Jammu and Kashmir. The protest rallies were held in several district headquarters in Kashmir Valley, an NC spokesman said. He said party functionaries, office-bearers and workers took out a protest march from the NC head office in Srinagar towards Lal Chowk city centre, but were stopped by police near TRC Crossing. The protesting functionaries and workers, holding placards and shouting slogans in favour of Article 370 and Article 35-A, were led by the party's senior leader and ...
Oppn questioning armed forces' assertion on air strike for cheap politics: Shah
Hitting back at the opposition, BJP chief Amit Shah said here Saturday that those who did not have the courage to give a befitting response to terrorists and avenge the killing of soldiers when in power were raising doubts on the recent air strike for "cheap politics" and their statements have made Pakistan happy. "The armed forces are saying in a press conference that we have conducted an airstrike and eliminated scores of terrorists. Can anyone have doubts about it. You should desist from such cheap politics," he said addressing the BJP's 'Vijay Sankalp' motorbike rally. Elections should be about making India stronger in every sphere, uplift of the poor and giving Pakistan a strong response, and not about fulfilling the wish of a "family" to make its "prince" the prime minister, Shah said, targeting the Congress leadership. Amid cheers from the crowd, Shah praised Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Air Force, saying he came back to India after shooting down Pakistan's F-16 ..
Madhur Bhandarkar welcomes home Abhinandan, slams Pakistani artistes for not condemning Pulwama terror attack
Indian filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar today expressed his happiness over the safe return of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman after two days in Pakistan and at the same time expressed his sorrow and displeasure of Pakistani artistes not condemning the Pulwama terror attack even in a 'lip-service tweet.'Speaking to ANI, Bhandarkar said, "We are all very happy that Abhinandan is back to our country. It is a proud moment for everybody. He put a very brave front and all of India was waiting for the last 48 hours for his return."However, referring to a derogatory video doing the rounds in Pakistan, the filmmaker said that the "shabby and badly edited" video looked like it was taken in "duress" and that it was a very "cheap" thing to do on Pakistan's part.Notably, Wing Commander Varthaman, flying a MiG -21 Bison fighter plane, was chasing Pakistani jets which transgressed into Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday and crossed over to PoK where his aircraft was shot down. He ejected safely and ..
Air strike: IAF met targets given to it
He also described as a "joke" a proposal floated in Pakistan that its Prime Minister Imran Khan should be given the Nobel Peace Price and said the entire world knows how Pakistan is harbouring at least 20 terror groups.Sareen, who was the Chief of Air Staff between 1995 and 1998, told ANI that it should not bother anyone whether four buildings were hit or in the air raids by Indian jets at JeM camp in Balakot in Pakistan on February 26 as the IAF had done what it was tasked to do."We should not count how many buildings were brought down. Their own information is that 50 terrorists were killed. We know 200-300 terrorists were killed," he said, seeking to downplay a debate on whether Indian jets actually caused any significant damage.When referred to the remarks by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi that he knows JeM chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan and that he was in touch with him, Sareen said he has spoken the truth unlike most of his compatriots.The former IAF chief ...
Iran says British Hezbollah ban 'irresponsible'
Iran condemned Britain's decision to outlaw the political wing of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement on Saturday, describing it as "wrong and irresponsible." Britain said Monday it would seek to make membership of the Shiite movement or inviting support for it a crime. The decision followed outrage over the display of the Hezbollah flag, which features a Kalashnikov assault rifle, at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London. "Iran considers Hezbollah a legitimate and legal force which plays an effective and undeniable role in helping its country's political stability and safeguarding its security," the foreign ministry said on its website. "[It] considers the decision to place Hezbollah on a terrorism blacklist to be wrong and irresponsible and one which will not contribute to the stability and security of Lebanon." Hezbollah was established in 1982 during the Lebanese civil war and fought a 2006 war with Israel. It is also a major force in the country's politics, holding three cabinet ...
In hoarding, Modi-Yogi supporter claims Priyanka Gandhi will 'fizzle out' in UP
A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Amethi, a hoarding stating that Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will "fizzle out" in Uttar Pradesh has come up in neighbouring Rae Bareli, evoking sharp response from the party. Congress leaders and workers have demand that the poster be immediately removed and action be initiated against those behind it. While Rae Bareli is the parliamentary constituency of Priyanka's mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president and brother Rahul Gandhi represents Amethi in the Lok Sabha. "Toot jaega danka, fuss (fizzle out) ho jaengi Priyanka," stated the hoarding at Canal Road in Rae Bareli. It was allegedly put up by Arun Singh, who claims to be a supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Singh has also mentioned his mobile number on the hoarding. Priyanka Gandhi, Congress's general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East) and Sonia Gandhi's daughter,entered active politics .
China says BRI not a debt trap or regional hegemony
China's BRI is not a debt trap or regional hegemony as the multi-billion dollar initiative has brought economic development and hope to its participants, a top Chinese official said on Saturday. Touted as Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe. China's annual political season, which will include full sessions of its rubber-stamp Parliament -- the National People's Congress (NPC) and a consultative body of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) -- began on Saturday with CPPCC spokesman Guo Weimin taking questions from local and foreign reporters during a nationally-televised press conference. In the next 10 days, the two bodies comprising over 5,000 delegates would deliberate on a host of national and international issues besides announcing the national defence budget. The NPC begins its session on March 5. Chinese ...
Lok Sabha polls; AIADMK allots one seat to Puthiya Thamilagam
: The ruling AIADMK Saturday signed a poll pact with Puthiya Thamilagam by alloting one parliamentary constituency to it, party Coordinator O Panneerselvam said. Puthiya Thamilagam President K Krishnaswamy along with his supporters held discussions with the AIADMK seat sharing committee at its party office here. Emerging after signing an alliance with Krishnaswamy, Panneerselvam, also the Deputy Chief Minister, said a parliamentary constituency has been allotted to Puthiya Thamilagam for the coming Lok Sabha polls. "For the 21 seats that are lying vacant in Tamil Nadu, Puthiya Thamiliagam would extend its support for the AIADMK candidates", he told reporters. While 18 assembly seats are lying vacant following the disqualification of the dissident MLAs (who owe allegiance to rebel leader MLA TTV Dhinakaran) by the Speaker, three other seats fell vacant following the demise of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi in 2018, AIADMK MLA A K Bose (Thiruparankundram) and Hosur ...
Ex-Cong leader joins TDP
Ahead of the Lok Sabha and State assembly polls, former Congress leader Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy formally joined the Telugu Desam Party in his native Kurnool district Saturday, ending days of speculation over his political moves. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inducted Suryaprakash Reddy, a former union minister, into the TDP at Kurnool. Reddy's wife and former MLA Kotla Sujatamma and son Raghavendra Reddy also joined the TDP. He is expected to be fielded to the Lok Sabha from Kurnool constituency that he previously represented twice. Reddy is the son of former Chief Minister Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy, a towering leader of the Congress party during Indira Gandhi's rule and subsequent periods. Reddy quit the Congress recently and had a dinner meeting with Naidu at the latter's residence here. Ever since, speculation has been rife that the former Union Minister of State for Railways would join the TDP. "Kurnool district is facing a severe water problem on the irrigation .
7th RCEP inter-sessional ministerial meet calls for meaningful outcome
A total of 16 ministers negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement on Saturday called for addressing specific sensitivities while working towards achieving commercially meaningful outcomes.The mega trade deal is being negotiated by 16 countries--the 10-member ASEAN group (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), besides their six free trade pact partners--Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand.Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu attended the 7th RCEP Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting held at Siem Reap in Cambodia. It was chaired by Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Acting Minister of Commerce of Thailand, and reviewed developments since the 2nd RCEP Summit held on November 14, 2018, in Singapore.About 25 rounds of talks have been concluded so far but the members are yet to finalise the number of goods on which customs duty will be eliminated. Issues are also ...
Rahul to launch poll campaign in TN on March 13
Congress President Rahul Gandhi will launch the party's election campaign in Tamil Nadu on March 13.
Modi to launch Kalashnikov rifles unit in Amethi on Sunday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where he is expected to unveil an Indo-Russian ordnance factory and several development projects related to power generation and other sectors, a government statement said on Saturday.
Ruling MDA wins tribal council elections in Meghalaya
The ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) led by the National Peoples Party (NPP) Saturday won both the tribal council elections in the state. It is a good sign for the MDA since it won the tribal council elections just ahead of the general elections this year, sources said. The opposition Congress won only 14 seats - 10 out of a total of 29 seats in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and 4 out of 29 seats in the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council. As many as 131 candidates contested the February 27 tribal autonomous council elections vying for a total of 58 seats - 29 seats in each of the two councils. The National People's Party (NPP) won 12 seats in Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and 7 seats in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council. It emerged as the single largest party by bagging 19 seats out of the total 58 seats. The other members of the ruling alliance in the state such as the United Democratic Party (UDP) bagged 16 seats, the
J-K: 400 additional bunkers sanctioned for border residents in Poonch, Rajouri
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday sanctioned additional 400 individual bunkers for Poonch and Rajouri districts in view of the heightened cross-border shelling from PakistanThe two districts will get 200 additional bunkers each.The Government has directed the concerned officials to ensure speedy construction of these bunkers. The funds for bunkers will be given to the District Collectors through the Rural Development Department.The bunkers will get built in the next one month as per the prescribed specifications.According to the locals, the bunkers have been proved to be an effective response to cross-border shelling.Mohinder Lal, a local told ANI, "Pakistan has been firing since the last 5-6 days, which has left a woman injured. Many houses have been destroyed because of this. Workers are having problems in building bunkers due to constant firing."Another local named Subhash said: "Schools have been shut as Pakistan has been firing since the last 5-6 days."Similar ...
MIM to field candidate in Bihar's Kishanganj, may fight from two other LS seats
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said his party will contest the Kishanganj Lok Sabha seat in Bihar, and might field candidates in one parliamentary constituency each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
Pak will not allow its soil to be used for terrorism against any state, including India: Qureshi
Pakistan will not allow its soil to be used for terrorism against any state, including India, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Saturday as he claimed that the "nerve centre" of the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group has been taken over by the government. India on Wednesday handed over to Pakistan a dossier on "specific details" of involvement of the JeM in the Pulwama terror attack on CRPF as also the presence of camps of the UN-proscribed terror outfit in that country. "India submitted its dossier..., if India wants to conduct talks on this, then we are ready for it," Qureshi said. He said that there is a new government with a new mindset and a new approach in Pakistan and its policies are very clear. "We will not allow Pakistani soil to be used by any group or any organisation for terrorist activities against any state, including India," Qureshi was quoted as saying by the BBC. Qureshi's remarks came amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the February 14 ..
Shatrughan Sinha meets Lalu Yadav in Ranchi hospital
Rebel BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday met former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here.
Political parties need to stand united to fight terrorism: Ghulam Nabi Azad
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Saturday said parties need to rise above their political interests and work unitedly to eliminate the menace of terrorism which has "swallowed a generation of youth" in the Kashmir Valley. He said peace talks between India and Pakistan cannot be held now in view of the heightened tension between the two neighbours, although nobody is in favour of war as "our government has made it clear that the IAF strike inside Pakistan was not aimed at the country, its civilians or military installations but at terrorist camps." "Our stand from day one is that the Congress is against terrorism and want its elimination. We will support whatever steps our security forces will take in this direction," the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha told reporters here. Welcoming the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to India after being released by Pakistan, Azad said, "Peace talks cannot be held this time but appropriate steps need to be taken to avoid war