Page 1473 - Politics
Indian, Pakistani armies trade gunfire on LoC
Indian and Pakistani armies traded mortar and small arms fire in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district for a second time on Thursday after the Pakistan Army violated the bilateral truce on the Line of Control (LoC).
15 IAS officers transferred in Rajasthan
The Rajasthan government has transferred or redesignated 15 IAS officers, including two district collectors. As per an order of the Department of Personnel released Wednesday night, Additional Chief Secretary Sudarshan Sethi will hold the charge of Mines and Petroleum Department. The charge of Forest and Environment Department, which Sethi was holding, was given to Principal Secretary Shreya Guha in addition to Tourism, Art and Culture Department. Surendra Singh Solanki was transferred as Sirohi District Collector while Chouthiram Meena as Sikar District Collector. Ashutosh Pednekar was transferred as Secretary, Panchayati Raj, Disaster and Relief Management, and Civil Defence Department, Premchand Berwal as Special Secretary, Home Department, and Kailash Chand Meena as Special Secretary, Rural Development Department. Shakuntala Singh has been transferred as Managing Director of Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation Ltd (RAJSICO). Sudhir Kumar Sharma has been transferred as Special ..
Azharuddin may pad up to take on Owaisi in Hyderabad LS seat
If things go as planned by the Telangana unit of the Congress, it could well be former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin versus AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat. The former India captain is the top pick of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) for the constituency. It has shortlisted candidates for all the 17 Lok Sabha segments in Telangana, party sources said. The 56-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, who hails from the city, was appointed as one of the working presidents of the TPCC before the December 7, 2018 assembly elections in the state. There were earlier reports that he was keen to contest from Secunderabad, now held by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, in the Lok Sabha election due by May. But it now looks unlikely that he would get the party nod to fight from there. However, it's not immediately clear if Azharuddin is willing to throw his hat in the ring in Hyderabad ...
Don't understand agenda of Pakistan to sponsor terrorism: Javed Akhtar
Veteran lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar says he does not understand the agenda of Pakistan to sponsor terrorist activities in India.
Got 'reasonably attractive news' from India and Pakistan: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he has received "reasonably attractive news" from Pakistan and India and hoped that tensions between the two countries could end.
India united against 'evil designs' of enemies: Modi
In a veiled attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India needed to stand united against the "evil designs" of its "enemy" which was hatching a conspiracy to destabilize the country and stop its progress with terror attacks.
Amid border tensions, Maharashtra legislature's budget session curtailed
Amid security concerns on the country's northwest borders, the Maharashtra government on Thursday decided to curtail the budget session of the state legislature by two days, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
Omar slams Modi for his mega video-conference with BJP workers
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Thursday said Narendra Modi "continuing" with his election campaign either indicates that the IAF pilot in Pakistani captivity will be back home in the next couple of days or that the prime minister "does not care enough". The prime minister on Thursday had direct dialogue with BJP workers and volunteers as part of the party's mera booth 'Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot' programme through, what the party claims, the "world's largest video conference". "PM Modi continuing with his #Elections2019 campaign is the surest sign #WingCommanderAbhinandan will be back in the next 24-48 hours. Either that or he really just couldn't care less," Abdullah said in a tweet. He had Wednesday called for suspension of all political activities till Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthman, who was captured by Pakistan, returns home. "PM Modi must suspend his political activities until #WingCommanderAbhinandan is returned safely. It can't be business as usual with him cross ...
Trump-Kim summit ends with no agreement
United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim-Jong-un failed to reach on an agreement on the denuclearisation of North Korea in their second summit in Hanoi.The Strait Times quoting the white house, said, "the two leaders had very good and constructive meetings in Hanoi" and discussed various ways to advance denuclearisation and economic driven concepts."No agreement was reached at this time, but their respective teams look forward to meeting in the future," it added.The closely watched Hanoi summit was expected to yield an agreement on the denuclearisation of North Korea. President Trump, though, had earlier downplayed hopes for a breakthrough in nuclear talks at the start of the summit.US President called the talks productive, adding that the relationship is "as good as it's ever been"..
End hostilities to avoid non-conventional war: Pakistani dailies
India and Pakistan must immediately end hostilities and the global community should intervene diplomatically if the threat of a non-conventional war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours is to be avoided, two leading Pakistani dailies said on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia ambassador meets PM
Saudi Arabia's ambassador to New Delhi on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting comes a day after tensions between India and its western neighbour escalated after Pakistani fighter jets violated Indian air space in response to IAF targeting a JeM terror camp in its territory. An IAF pilot was captured by Pakistan after an air combat Wednesday. Both sides said they shot down each other's warplanes. "Dr Saud Mohammed Al-Sati, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to India met PM," the PMO said while tweeting a picture of the two. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman was in India last week. Terrorism and extremism are "common concerns" and Saudi Arabia will extend all cooperation to India and other neighbouring countries to deal with them, Mohammed Bin Salman had said after holding "extensive and successful" talks with Prime Minister Modi.
Indian pilot shot in leg in PoK while swallowing documents, maps
After the 'missing in action' Indian Air Force pilot was captured by the Pakistani Army after his MiG-21 Bison jet crashed on Pakistani soil, Pakistan-based newspaper Dawn claimed that a boy shot at the Indian pilot identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's leg while he was taking out some documents and maps from his pockets, some of which he tried to swallow and soaked others in water."A pilot equipped with a pistol emerged out of the parachute safe and sound. The Indian pilot ran a distance of half a kilometre in backward direction while pointing his pistol towards the boys who were chasing him. During this brisk movement, he fired some more gunshots in the air to frighten them but to no avail. Then he jumped into a small pond where he took out some documents and maps from his pockets, some of which he tried to swallow and soaked others in water. The boys kept on asking him to drop his weapon and in the meanwhile, one boy shot at his leg," wrote Dawn quoting a 58-year-old .
PM makes veiled attack on Oppn parties, says nothing should be done to demoralise armed forces
A day after 21 opposition parties accused the government of politicizing the air strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that as a nation "we should stand united" and nothing should be done which demoralizes the Armed forces or gives leverage to Pakistan over India.The Prime Minister while addressing BJP booth workers said, "We have trust on the capability of our soldiers which is why it is important that we must not do anything that impacts the morale of the security forces and allow our enemies an opportunity to point fingers on us." "India will live as one, grow as one, fight as one, win as one. The enemy tries to destabilize us, carries out terror attacks, they want to stop our growth. We all countrymen are standing like a rock to counter their evil designs," he added.The leaders of 21 political parties on Wednesday expressed their solidarity with the armed forces while expressing deep anguish over the "blatant politicisation" of the sacrifices made by the forces by .
Japan condemns Pulwama terror attack, calls on India and Pakistan to hold dialogue amid rising tensions
Japan on Thursday expressed concerns about the deteriorating situation in Kashmir after the death of 40 security personnel in Pulwama and urged Pakistan to take stringent measures to curb the menace of terrorism."Japan strongly condemns the terrorist attack on February 14, 2019, for which the Islamic extremist group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility.Japan urges Pakistan to take stronger measures to counter terrorism," Foreign Minister Taro Kono said.Kono also called on India and Pakistan to hold dialogue in an effort to maintain regional peace and prevent tensions from worsening."In response to the mounting tension due to the operations since 26 February between the Indian Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force, Japan strongly urges India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and stabilize the situation through dialogue," he added.
If Congress-JD(S) bag 20-22 seats in Karnataka, a Kannadiga can be PM again: Kumaraswamy
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy here on Wednesday said that if the Congress and JD(S) alliance wins at least 20-22 seats in Karnataka, then a Kannadiga can once again become the next Prime Minister of the country."In 1996, a Kannadiga HD Devegowda became Prime Minister after you (Karnataka people) blessed us with 16 Lok Sabha seats. If you bless Congress and JD(S) with at least 20-22 seats in Karnataka once again, a Kannadiga can be in that place (Prime Minister)," Kumaraswamy said while addressing a rally here.On Thursday also, Kumaraswamy stood by his statement and said, "In this country, anything can happen. Why can't it happen?"In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJP won 17 seats in Karnataka while Congress and JD(S) were restricted to nine and two out of the total of 28 seats.
Opposition 'mahagatbandhan' will send country to ICU: Modi
Dismissing the 'mahagatbandhan' of opposition parties as 'mahamilavat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said it would send the country to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Addressing BJP workers across the country, he suggested that a loss for the party, like in 2004, will jeopardise development works and ease of corruption will replace ease of doing business. The prime minister also said 2014 was a mandate for fulfilling people's necessities while the 2019 election will be about fulfilling people's aspirations. The grand opposition alliance, the 'mahagatbandhan', was highly adulterated, 'mahamilavat', he said. The prime minister was interacting with about one crore BJP workers in 15,000 locations through what the party said was the "world's largest video conference.
US NSA Bolton dials Doval amid tensions between India, Pak
US National Security Adviser John Bolton has talked to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval for a second time amidst tense ties between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack and New Delhi's air strike against JeM terror training camp in Balaklot. Doval and Bolton are understood to have discussed the current situation in the region during the telephonic conversation on Wednesday, official sources here said. The two national security advisers previously talked on February 15 during which they resolved to hold Pakistan to account for its obligations under the UN resolutions and remove all obstacles to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) leader Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. Bolton supported India's right to self-defence against cross-border terrorism and offered all assistance to India to bring the perpetrators and backers of the attack promptly to justice. Tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pulwama attack by ...
Trump-Kim summit cut short without agreement
A summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam's capital was cut short on Thursday without any agreement, the White House announced.
Trump is 'racist, 'conman', Cohen tells Congressional panel
A convicted tax cheat and liar, who was once Donald Trump's lawyer, has come before a Congressional committee to testify that the President is a "racist", a "conman" and a "cheat" and to warn that there will not be peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election next year.
Trump on former lawyer Cohen's testimony: 'He lied a lot'
President Donald Trump sought to discredit his former lawyer Michael Cohen Thursday after the ex-aide's bombshell congressional testimony in which he essentially called Trump a criminal. "He lied a lot," Trump told a press conference in Vietnam after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump insisted that Cohen's testimony Wednesday had provided no evidence of collusion by the Trump campaign with Russia in the 2016 US election. Cohen told the lawmakers he had no direct knowledge of collusion but that he had suspicions. The president complained that the testimony took place during the summit with Kim. "I think having a fake hearing like that and having it in the middle of this very important summit is really a terrible thing," Trump said. Trump again insisted the probe into Russian collusion is a "hoax" and a "witchhunt.