Page 1472 - Politics
Under fire, Yeddyurappa says no question of seeking electoral gains from air strike
Facing flak for linking India's air strike on terror camps in Pakistan with BJP's prospects in Lok Sabha polls, party Karnataka chief B S Yeddyurappa Thursday said there was no question of seeking electoral gains and the nation came first to him. Yeddyurappa's remarks amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan drew criticism from political leaders in Karnataka and disapproval from his own party colleague and Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh. He had on Wednesday said India's pre-emptive strikes on terror camps in Pakistan has created a wave in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will help the party win over 22 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. The Pakistan media and the ruling party there Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf too latched on to Yeddyurappa's statement to question India whether war was an election option. "I would like to clarify that my yesterdays statement has been completely misinterpreted. I have highest regard for our armed forces. I ...
Odisha CM prays for safe return of IAF pilot
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday hoped and prayed for the safe return of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan during an air combat. "Saluting the courage and valour of our forces, I hope and pray for the wellbeing and safe return of our brave pilot," Patnaik tweeted. The CM had earlier congratulated the Indian Air Force for its pre-dawn air strike on terror camps in Pakistan. Wing Commander Varthaman was captured by the neighbouring country Wednesday amid a fierce engagement between the air forces of the two sides along the Line of Control (LoC).
If Indian pilot is freed, then grab Imran's olive branch: Raj Thackeray
If Pakistan frees the captured IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman and orders a ceasefire, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi should grab his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan's offer for talks, MNS President Raj Thackeray said on Thursday.
Pak resorts to heaving shelling at forward posts in Poonch, Rajouri
The Pakistani Army Thursday heavily shelled forward posts along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajauri districts, committing repeated ceasefire violations but drawing "strong" retaliation from the Indian Army, an official said. This is the seventh consecutive day that Pakistan breached the ceasefire, targeting forward posts along the LoC. There have been fresh ceasefire violations in Nowshera and Krishna Ghati sectors, officials said. They committed three ceasefire violations during the day, officials added. "At about 2.14 pm, the Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked mortar shelling and small arms firing along the LoC in Nowshera sector in Rajouri, violating the ceasefire," the Defence PRO said. They violated the ceasefire earlier at about 1 pm, resorting to unprovoked shelling and firing along the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector, he said. "The Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively," he added. The Pakistani army began breaching ceasefire since early morning, ...
Trump-Kim summit breaks down over sanctions
A summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended on Thursday with no agreement after Washington refused Pyongyang's demands for economic sanctions relief.
Pak to evaluate India's dossier on Pulwama attack with 'open heart': Qureshi
Pakistan Thursday said it will evaluate with an "open heart" the dossier handed over by India on "specific details" of the involvement of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in the Pulwama terror attack on CRPF and the presence of camps of the UN-proscribed terror outfit in the country. India handed over the dossier on Wednesday to the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan, who was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi to lodge a strong protest over Pakistan Air Force targeting Indian military installations, a day after the Indian counter-terror action against the JeM. The Ministry of External Affairs had said Pakistan was conveyed that India expects Islamabad to take immediate and verifiable action against terrorism emanating from territories under its control. The Pakistan Foreign Office on Thursday confirmed that it received the dossier on the Pulwama attack. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, "Will evaluate Indian dossier with an open heart." "I wish India would
How can Goa host carnivals while India worries about Abhinandan's safety: Congress
The Goa Congress on Thursday questioned the BJP-led coalition government's decision to host festive events amid the increasing hostilities between India and Pakistan and the capture of Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.
Saying no to war is not cowardice: Prashant Kishor
Saying no to war is not cowardice, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) Vice President Prashant Kishor said on Thursday.
HC dismisses Jairam Ramesh's plea against amendments in PMLA through Money Bills
The Delhi High Court Thursday dismissed a plea by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh challenging the amendments made to the anti-money laundering law since 2015. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao rejected the plea in which Ramesh said that the amendments were done in violation of the Constitution as they were enacted as money bills. The court had on Wednesday reserved its order after hearing arguments on behalf of the Congress leader and the Centre. It had said the it would consider the petition. In the petition, the Rajya Sabha MP has said that prior to the present regime at the Centre such amendments were part of an ordinary bill. A money bill is a piece of legislation which can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha cannot amend or reject it. The Upper House can only make recommendations which may or may not be accepted by the Lower House. Senior advocate P Chidambaram and advocate Abhishek Jebraj, appearing for the Congress leader, had told the ...
Imran Khan ready to talk peace to Modi: Pakistan Foreign Minister
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to talk to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi over telephone "to extend an invitation of peace", Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Thursday.
Sale of electoral bonds in 3 tranches from March: FinMin
With the general elections round the corner, the government has authorised State Bank of India to launch the sale of electoral bonds in the months of March, April and May. The government had brought in electoral bond scheme as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of its efforts to bring transparency in political funding. "State Bank of India (SBI) has been authorized to issue and encash Electoral Bonds through its 29 Authorised Branches in the months of March, April and May 2019," the Finance Ministry said in a statement. The bonds will be sold in three tranches from March 1-15, April 1-20 and May 6-15. The general elections are due in April-May. The electoral bonds will be valid for 15 calendar days from the date of issue and no payment will be made to any payee political party if the bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period. The electoral bond deposited by an eligible political party in its account shall be credited on the same day, the ...
State govts should not look at aviation sector through centre versus state prism: Prabhu
States across the country will be the beneficiaries of the expanding aviation sector, and should consequently not look it through a centre versus state prism, Union minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday said. "States will be the biggest beneficiaries (of expanding aviation sector). So we should not look at it as you against us. Because we (centre) can say this is your problem," the Civil Aviation minister said at "Wings 2019", a conference organised by his ministry and FICCI. Noting that both the Centre and state should have a common platform for expanding aviation sector, he said every problem of the sector is "our" problem "because when people vote for the central government or state government, the voters are the same, it is just that they choose different governments". He said, "Aviation is a subject where you can not make the mission possible for letting everyone fly, unless we can make state governments part of this process. They will be partners in progress. They should be ...
India yet to take call on Samjhauta Express, Pak suspends operations on its end
The Indian Railways is yet to decide whether to run the Samjhauta Express train on its side on Thursday and beyond, even as Pakistan suspended its services on its end, officials said here, amidst strain in ties in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack and subsequent developments. The train is scheduled to run from Attari to Delhi at 8 pm Thursday. The decision on whether the Indian side will run the train from Attari to Delhi -- with both Pakistani and Indian passengers on board -- is yet to be taken, they said. Pakistan had Wednesday cancelled the train's trip on the Wagah-Lahore stretch on their side, even as 27 passengers -- 23 Indians and three from the neighbouring country -- arrived at Attari from Delhi on an Indian rake which left the Old Delhi Railway station at 11:20 pm last night. The Wagah station master sent a message to his Attari counterpart that the passenger and parcel train which comes to Attari station from the Pakistan side at 12.30 pm will not be coming till .
Karnataka Congress, BJP in Twitter 'war' over pre-emptive strike
The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka on Thursday locked horns in a Twitter war over India's pre-emptive strike on terror camps in Pakistan on Tuesday.
HC dismisses Dhinakaran, Sasikala plea for AIADMK name, symbol
The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed the pleas of TTV Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala challenging the Election Commission's order granting the AIADMK name and two leaves symbol to the faction led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami. A bench of Justices G S Sistani and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal upheld the EC's decision of November 23, 2017, saying none of the grounds of challenge taken by Dhinakaran and Sasikala are sufficient to set aside the poll panel order. The EC on November 23, 2017 had allotted the 'two leaves' symbol to the group headed by Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam. EC agrees in HC that 'pressure cooker' symbol will not be allotted to anyone else in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for next 15 days.
Have not asked for consular access to IAF pilot, want him back immediately: India
India has not asked for consular access to the IAF pilot captured by Pakistan, and is insisting on his unconditional and immediate return, government sources said on Thursday. They asserted that there was no question of any deal on the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The sources said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has to walk the talk on investigating the February 14 Pulwama attack and that India wants immediate, credible and verifiable action against terrorists and their proxies. "India has not asked for any consular access to the IAF pilot. We want him back immediately," a source said. "The IAF pilot has to be repatriated unconditionally and immediately. There is no question of any deal," he said. The sources also questioned Khan's statement on Wednesday that two Indian jets were downed in an air combat and asked "was he not briefed or did he say an untruth". Denouncing Pakistan's breach of the Line of Control, they said their air force "specifically targeted ...
PM Modi has misplaced priorities, he is desperate only for re-election: Cong
The Congress on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "misplaced priorities" and that he was "desperate only for re-election". It also accused the saffron party leaders of politicising the bravery of the armed forces, while referring to Karnataka BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa's comment that India's "pre-emptive strikes" on terror camps in Pakistan have created a wave in favour of PM Modi and will help his party win over 22 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, in a tweet, alleged that the prime minister was "hell-bent on creating a video-conference record" when the entire country was praying for the return of its braveheart pilot. An IAF pilot was captured by Pakistan after an air combat on Wednesday during which the two sides said they shot down each other's warplanes that followed an unsuccessful attempt to target Indian military installations in retaliatory strikes that sparked fears of war. IAF sources identified ...
Mayawati flays Modi over BJP address
BSP leader Mayawati on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "serving political interest" when she said India is facing hostility from Pakistan.
Trump 'walks' as North Korea talks end abruptly without deal
- The US-North Korea nuclear summit in Hanoi ended abruptly without a deal Thursday, with President Donald Trump saying he had decided to "walk" in the face of Kim Jong Un's demands to drop sanctions. The much-anticipated second meeting between the two leaders was supposed to build on their historic first summit in Singapore, but they failed to sign a joint statement as initially scheduled and the talks ended in deadlock. "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downbeat Trump told reporters. "Basically they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn't do that," said. But Trump insisted he was "optimistic that the progress we made" before and during the summit left them "in position to have a really good outcome" in the future. "I'd much rather do it right than do it fast," he added. He noted Kim had vowed not to resume nuclear or ballistic missile testing -- something he previously identified as a yardstick for success -- but ...
Confident of winning Lok Sabha election: Modi
Expressing confidence of winning the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged BJP workers not to commit any mistake so that there are no regrets later.