Page 1464 - Politics
Cabinet approves J-K Reservation Amendment Ordinance
The Union cabinet on Thursday approved two major decisions regarding Jammu and Kashmir including the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 which provides amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.It also approved an amendment to the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) order, 1954 by way of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2019."The decisions have been taken in consultation with the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir", Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.Sharing details of the amendment, Jaitley said: "Jammu and Kashmir reservation Act which gave reservation to people residing near Line of Control and was not applicable to people living near International Border. Once the Ordinance is issued, it would pave the way for bringing persons residing in the areas adjoining International Border within the ambit of reservation at par with persons living in areas adjoining Actual Line of Control."Whereas the ...
Punjab CM offers to receive Abhinandan at border, tweets to PM
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has offered to receive Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at the border on his arrival from Pakistan.The Chief Minister, who arrived here this evening as part of his tour of the border areas to take stock of the ground situation and build confidence among the people there, tweeted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's announcement that the IAF pilot would be released on March 1.Captain Amarinder tweeted: "Dear Narendra Modi, I am touring the border areas of Punjab & I'm presently in Amritsar. Came to know that @pid_gov has decided to release #AbhinandanVartaman from Wagha. It will be a honour for me to go and receive him, as he and his father are alumnus of the NDA as I am."Captain Amarinder had earlier, in an informal interaction with media persons in Jalandhar, welcomed the announcement of Imran Khan and termed the decision to release Abhinandan as a goodwill ...
IAF pilot likely to return via Wagah-Attari on Friday, Amarinder offers to receive
Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman is likely to be released by Pakistani authorities on Friday and brought back home through the Wagah-Attari joint check-post.
Bedi hails announcement that IAF pilot will be released
Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi Thursday hailed the announcement of Pakistan Prime Minister that captured IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman would be released tomorrow. The former IPS officer in her twitter handle expressed her thanks and pointed out that "Indian Air Force fighter pilot Abhinandan held captive comes back tomorrow. Thanks for India's firm stand and international glare".
J&K guv reviews security situation
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik was briefed about the security situation across the state by adviser Vijay Kumar on Thursday in wake of the developments of last few days, an official spokesperson said. The governor was briefed about the overall law and order and obtaining security scenario during the last few days and the measures taken by the civil and police administration to maintain peace and harmony across the state, the spokesperson said. He was informed about the steps taken and being taken to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities and services, besides safe passage to the stranded passengers. The governor was also informed that the district-level officers, both from the civil and police administrative, were touring their areas of jurisdiction regularly for assessing the situation on ground and are in regular touch with the civilian population, the spokesperson said. They are holding regular interactions with the people to instill confidence and allay ...
Sweden moves to criminalise terror group membership
Sweden, one of the world's most liberal countries, on Thursday moved to make it illegal to join a terror organisation as the government seeks to punish jihadist fighters returning home. The new law, set to enter into force in August, "will allow us to prosecute and try many more of them than we've been able to until now," Justice Minister Morgan Johansson said. However, the legislation will not be retroactive and therefore cannot be applied to the dozens of fighters who have already come back to Sweden. The centre-left government tightened its anti-terror laws following a deadly 2017 truck attack carried out by an Uzbek asylum-seeker. Under the current laws, Sweden can only prosecute foreign fighters if it can prove that they have been involved in crimes violating the Geneva Convention. Some 300 Swedish nationals have joined jihadist groups like the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq since 2012, according to the security services. Around half have since returned while another 100 are ...
Israel attorney general announces intention to indict Netanyahu
Israel's attorney general announced Thursday he intended to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in a decision just weeks ahead of April elections. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said in a statement that he intended to charge the premier pending a hearing, where Netanyahu would be given a chance to defend himself before charges are filed. The announcement comes ahead of April 9 elections in which Netanyahu is facing a tough challenge from a centrist political alliance headed by a respected former military chief of staff, Benny Gantz. Netanyahu, who rejects all accusations, was due to speak at 1800 GMT and his right-wing Likud party called the allegations "political persecution." "Unilateral publication of the attorney general's announcement just a month before the elections, without giving the prime minister an opportunity to refute these false accusations, is a blatant and unprecedented intervention in the elections," Likud ...
Would have suspended Pune police commissioner for Elgar case:
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar said Thursday that if he had been in power, he would have suspended the Pune police commissioner for registering a case against those associated with the Elgar Parishad conclave. The Pune Police last year arrested several left-wing activists including Sudha Bharadwaj and Telugu poet Warawara Rao in connection with the Elgar conclave held here on December 31, 2017. It was alleged that they had links with Maoists who had allegedly funded the conclave. However, it was not clear which case Pawar was referring to among multiple FIRs. Retired High Court judge and one of the organisers of the Elgar Parishad, Justice B G Kolse-Patil, was felicitated at Pawar's hands at a program here Thursday. Pawar said Kolse-Patil is known for his struggle and his rebellious nature, and he does not care about criticism. "He has been fighting for what is right and in the interest of society. During his speech he talked about Elgar ...
Karnataka Cong, BJP wage a Twitter 'war' over IAF strike
A war of tweets broke out between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka on Thursday over India's strike on terror camps in Pakistan on Tuesday.
Amarinder offers to receive Abhinandan at Attari border, tweets request to PM Modi
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has offered to receive Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at the Attari border in Amritsar district when the IAF pilot arrives on Friday after being released by Pakistan. The Congress leader tweeted his request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Pakistan PM Imran Khan's announcement that the IAF pilot would be released on March 1. "Dear @narendramodi ji, I'm touring the border areas of Punjab & I'm presently in Amritsar. Came to know that @pid_gov has decided to release #AbhinandanVartaman from Wagha. It will be a honour for me to go and receive him, as he and his father are alumnus of the NDA as I am," Singh wrote. Meanwhile, official sources said in New Delhi that a delegation of IAF will on Friday receive Wing Commander Varthaman at the Wagah border. Varthaman's MiG 21 was shot and he bailed out after bringing down one Pakistani F-16 fighter during a dogfight to repel a Pakistani attack on Wednesday morning. He has been in Pakistan ...
Delhi HC verdict shows the real AIADMK: Palaniswami
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and AIADMK Joint Coordinator on Thursday said the Delhi High Court verdict in the 'two leaves symbol case' is a good one and showed they are the real AIADMK.
India gives specific information on JeM to UNSC members
India has given specific information about Jaish-e-Mohammad to all 15 members of United Nations Security Council even as the US, the UK and France having moved a fresh proposal there to designate the Pakistan-based terror group's chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.
IAF to receive Wing Commander Varthaman at Wagah border post: Sources
A delegation of IAF team will on Friday receive Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, captured by Pakistan during an aerial combat, at the Wagah border, official sources said. Varthaman's MiG 21 was shot and he bailed out after bringing down one Pakistani F-16 fighter during a dogfight to repel a Pakistani attack on Wednesday morning. He has been in Pakistan since then. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in Parliament on Thursday that Varthaman would be released on Friday as a "peace gesture". Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. It came 12 days after the JeM claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. A team of Indian Air Force officials will receive Wing Commander Abhinandan at the Wagah border on Friday evening, the sources said. It is not clear whether Varthaman will be handed over to
Ro-Ro ship service launched across Brahmaputra
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Thursday launched Ro-Ro ship service between this city and North Guwahati town in Kamrup district across the river Brahmaputra. The Inland Water Transport Department of the state government would operate four Ro-Ro vessels which would carry passengers and cars. Speaking about the importance of North Guwahati, Sonowal said the place had witnessed a great war where Ahom kingdom's general Lachit Borphukan defeated the Mughals. "Therefore, this place personified courage, valour and is a testimony of a glorious history", he said. "Ever since the present BJP-led government has come to power, it has been working passionately to bring about all round development in all sectors of the state", Sonowal said. In the programme, the chief minister also distributed land pattas to 225 families displaced because of setting up of the IIT-Guwahati in 1994. He also laid the foundation stone of North Guwahati Stadium, inaugurated the Affordable and ...
Govt imposes ban on Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir
Separatist group Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir was banned Thursday under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for alleged anti-national and subversive activities, officials said. A notification on the ban was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after a high-level meeting on security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The separatist group is alleged to be involved in anti-national and subversive activities in the country and is in close touch with militant outfits. Security forces launched a crackdown on separatist forces and arrested many leaders and cadres of the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir after the February 14 terrorist attack in Pulwama, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
Turkish Prez Erdogan calls PM Imran, praises his gesture to release IAF pilot
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday called Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and appreciated his announcement to release captured Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as a gesture of peace. In a surprise announcement during a joint session of Parliament, Prime Minister Khan said Thursday that Indian Air Force pilot Varthaman will be released on Friday as a gesture of peace and will be the "first step" to open negotiations with India. The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that Erdogan congratulated the Prime Minister on his speech in the Parliament and "his statesman-like offers to India for de-escalating the situation and working towards peace". "President Erdogan appreciated the announcement by the Prime Minister to release the captured Indian Air Force pilot. He pointed out that this gesture was a sign of strength," the statement said. Prime Minister Khan briefed Erdogan on the situation as it evolved over the past few days and the efforts he made .
Pakistan's old modus operandi fails this time
However, this time around, the response by the government was different from the past events with aerial strikes hitting Jaish-e-Mohammad's flagship terror camp deep inside Pakistani terroritory in Balakot.Here are some examples of what happened after major terror attacks earlier.After the November 26, 2008 multiple attacks in Mumbai, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said on December 2, that "Pakistan wanted good relations with India and that now was not the time for a 'blame game, taunts (and) finger-pointing."He had also said that, "The government of Pakistan has offered a joint investigating mechanism and a joint commission to India. We are ready to jointly go into the depth of this issue and we are ready to compose a team that could help you."THE Indian government had asked Pakistan to hand over Hafiz Saeed, chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which carried out the ghastly attacks but nothing happened. After the attack on Pathankot Airbase in January 2016 carried out .
Amid border tensions, Pak airspace to open tomorrow
Pakistan's airspace will open fully for commercial operations from 6 pm (local time) on Friday (March 1), said the country's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Thursday."New revised NOTAM issued on suspension of Pakistan airspace until 0800 EST (6 pm - Pakistan Time) on 1st March 19," read a tweet by CAA. NOTAM or A Notice to Airmen is a notice filed with an aviation authority.Earlier, the CAA had stated that all flight operations across Pakistan would be suspended till 5 am (local time) on Friday, Geo News reported.The Pakistani airspace was temporarily restored by the CAA for commercial operations, during which three flights departed from the country, amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.The three flights were Emirates EK637 from Peshawar to Dubai, Air Arabia G9825 from Peshawar to Ras Al Khaimah, and Qatar Airways from Peshawar to Doha.The country's national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said that its flight operations to Saudi Arabia and the UAE will .
Lot of published material in Pakistan speaks about JeM activities
Material published by JeM and available in Pakistan shows how conferences and camps are held in the country, with the patronage of JeM chief Masood Azhar, to either recruit terrorists or hail those Pakistanis who die while carrying out attacks in India.There is also printed material available which speaks about campaigns held by Azhar to collect donations for 'jihad'.Banners regarding terror training courses organised by JeM are openly put on display in various parts of Pakistan, with an aim of recruiting locals for 'jihad' against India.For example, one banner spoke about the training courses like Daura-e-Tafseer from February 3 to 17, Daura-e-Tarbia from February 9 to 23 and Daura-e-Asasiya form February 10 to 24 at Markz Sharif in Bahawalpur and Daura-e-Tarbia from February 16 and March 2 to 30 at Jama Masjid Rashidiya in Karachi and Madrasa Sanan bin Salma, Peshawar, respectively.According to a magazine of February 20, 2018, the JeM's 'Shoba-e-Taaruf' (Department of introduction) .
Hope continued engagement between US, N Korea will lead to peace in Korean Peninsula: India on Trump-Kim summit
India on Thursday welcomed the just-concluded summit in Vietnam's Hanoi city between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, expressing hope that the continued engagement between the two countries would pave the way for lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula."India welcomes continued engagement between the United States and DPRK and hopes to see these discussions paving the way for lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula," external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a statement."India has consistently supported all efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy," he added.Earlier today, the two-day meeting ended abruptly as Trump and Kim failed to reach an agreement on North Korea's denuclearisation.In a statement, the White House said that the two leaders had "very good and constructive" meetings in Hanoi and discussed various ways to advance denuclearisation and ...