Page 1485 - Politics
MDMK will stage black flag demo against PM at Kanyakumari:
The MDMK will stage a black flag demonstration against Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during his visit to Kanyakumari on March 1, its general secretary Vaiko said Wednesday. The demonstration was against his failure to visit areas affected by Gaja cyclone in November last year and for the Centre forcing some projects on Tamil Nadu, Vaiko told reporters at the airport here. The Prime Minister is expected to visit Kanyakumari to launch various welfare projects and address a rally. About BJP Tamil Nadu unit president Tamilisai Soundarajan's remarks that agitations were a waste, he said she had all the freedom to express her views. Discussions on seat-sharing with the DMK were satisfactory, he said. The MDMK chief denied rumours on reports that he would contest from Tiruchirapalli and said a decision in this regard would be taken by the party's governing body.
No formal confirmation of Indian pilot in Pak custody: Sources
According to sources, Pakistan has not yet formally informed India about the detention of the pilot which it claims is in its custody.While responding to a question whether India will take up the case of IAF pilot through diplomatic channels or the UN, Sources said, "Pakistan has not formally informed India about the detention of the pilot which it claims to have in its custody."Sources have also said that there is only one Indian pilot missing so far, contrary to Pakistan's claim of having two pilots in its custody.Meanwhile, India said it foiled an attempt by Pakistan Air Force this morning to carry out strikes in Jammu and Kashmir by shooting down an F-16 fighter plane while losing its own MiG-21 jet after which a pilot was "missing in action".External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar, flanked by Air Vice Marshal R G K Kapoor, said at a media briefing here that Pakistan has resorted to use of air force on to target military installations on the Indian side in response to ...
If US can kill Osama in Pakistan, why can't India: Jaitley
If the US commandos can kill terror outfit Al-Qaeda's chief Osama bin Laden in Pakistan's Abbottabad then why can't India, said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday."If the United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land Teams (SEALs) can kill Osama bin Laden in Pakistan's Abbottabad then why can't India," said Arun Jaitley here in a press conference. It is worth mentioning that Jaitely's statement comes amidst the escalating tension between Indian and Pakistan.A day after Indian air strike on a terror camp in Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir saw heightened military activity on Wednesday, with Pakistani jets violating the Indian air space and dropping some bombsin Rajouri sector after which one of their fighters was shot down. He also lauded union minister Nitin Gadkari and said, "We used to see rivers as a way to generate market and tourism but Gadkari has proved me wrong." Against the backdrop of anger in India over the Pulwama terror attack, the Centre decided that water of three rivers ...
Congress cancels CWC meeting amid escalating tension at border
The Congress party postponed its working committee meeting and Sankalp rally in the backdrop of escalating tension between India and Pakistan on the border.Congress President Rahul Gandhi, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party's general secretary in-charge for UP East Priyanka Gandhi were scheduled to participate in the meeting.Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: "This is not Congress, BJP thing. We want the country together that is why we are postponing the CWC."Congress sources said, "When Pakistan is shooting our planes this means the tension is escalating. We will hold our horses till the government comes clean on it. Congress is anticipating more such similar incidents. The party thinks that in this scenario political activity will not be good.
Imran again invites India for talks, warns against 'miscalculation'
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday again invited India for talks and urged that "better sense should prevail" amid escalating tensions between the two neighbours.
TN CM unveils MGR centenary arch
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Wednesday unveiled the MGR Centenary Arch on Kamaraj Salai, a month after the Madras High Court allowed its unveiling sans any ceremony. Palaniswami unveiled the structure, built an an estimated cost of Rs 2.52 crore, from the state Secretariat, in the company of his deputy O Panneerselvam and senior cabinet ministers. The 66 feet wide and 52 feet tall arch was proposed to commemorate the birth centenary of the late chief minister MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, also the AIADMK founder. In January last, the Madras High Court had permitted the Tamil Nadu government to unveil the arch, but without any ceremony. A division bench had said only the green net covering the arch should be removed, "without any ceremony in any manner." In November last, the bench had passed an interim order, restraining the state government from inaugurating the arch, off the famous Marina beach, till disposal of public interest litigation petition
Emirates flight to Delhi diverted due to closure of Karachi airspace
An Emirates flight from Dubai to Delhi was diverted on Wednesday after Karachi airspace was closed amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
China says Trump-Kim summit 'important step' towards denuclearisation
China's foreign minister said Wednesday the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un can be an "important step" towards advancing denuclearisation and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Beijing is North Korea's sole major ally and Kim travelled for more than two days by train across China on his way to Hanoi. The North Korean leader met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for a fourth time in January, showing that Beijing retains a key role in the diplomatic shuffle. "In this Hanoi meeting, we can not only increase the hard-won warming up of the situation, but we can also take an important step towards advancing the denuclearisation of the peninsula and establishing a peace mechanism," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said after talks with his Russian and Indian counterparts in the eastern Chinese city of Wuzhen. Trump was due to meet Kim for dinner later Wednesday and meet again on Thursday. Following a historic first meeting in Singapore in June that produced a
Pakistan F-16 shot down, IAF pilot missing in action: India (Third Lead)
Amid escalating tensions after the IAF bombed the JeM's biggest training camp, India on Wednesday shot down a Pakistani jet and said one of its MiG-21 pilots was "missing in action" and reportedly in Pakistani custody.
Modi asks youths to question Rajya Sabha MPs over lack of House productivity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday took a dig at the Opposition over the Rajya Sabha's lack of productivity and said it is a matter of concern. Addressing the "National Youth Parliament Festival", he told youngsters to question the members of the Rajya Sabha, where opposition parties have a numerical advantage over his government, of their respective states, asserting it will lead to nationwide pressure on them. Modi said the productivity of the outgoing 16th Lok Sabha, where the government enjoys a big majority, was 85 per cent (20 per cent more than the previous Lok Sabha) and it passed 205 bills, as he credited the development to the full majority voters gave to the BJP in the 2014 general elections. He expressed concern over only 8 per cent productivity of the Rajya Sabha in the last session where the interim budget was passed. With the general elections due in April-May, Modi is seeking a renewed mandate to push ahead with the "development" agenda and asserting that a ...
Market extends losses as India-Pak tension escalates
The benchmark BSE Sensex surrendered early gains Wednesday to end in the negative terrain by shedding 68 points on escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Investor sentiment took a beating after Pakistani fighter jets on Wednesday violated Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Nowshera sectors, brokers said. After rising nearly 400 points in early trade, the Sensex turned negative triggered by across-the-market selling by participants. The index finally settled 68.28 points, or 0.19 per cent, lower at 35,905.43. The gauge had lost 239.67 points Tuesday. The 50-share Nifty also fell 28.65 points, or 0.26 per cent, to 10,806.65. Intra-day, it moved between 10,939.70 and 10,751.20. The rupee depreciated 25 paise to 71.32 after touching a low of 71.49 against the dollar (intra-day), also hitting trading sentiments. Fears that foreign institutional investors (FIIs), who have been pumping sizeable funds into the Indian bourses in the past few sessions, may slow down ...
China again calls on India, Pakistan to exercise restraint
China on Wednesday again called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint amid the escalation of hostilities between the two countries and urged them to engage in dialogue to uphold the peace and stability in the region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang's remarks came after Pakistan targeted military installations in India in response to Indian counter-terrorism in Balakot. "I understand that in the latest development Pakistan says it had shot down two Indian aircraft and captured Indian pilots," Lu Kang told the media here. He said the international community is following the developments closely. "China's position is clear. As two important countries in South Asia we hope that the two countries can exercise restraint and engage in dialogue and take actions for the peace and stability in the region," he said. China on Tuesday also urged India and Pakistan to "exercise restraint" and asked New Delhi to carry out its fight against terrorism through international ...
Opposition parties meet in Parliament to discuss security situation
Among those present were former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee
 "Opposition parties meet in Parliament to discuss security situation")
Nine JD-S legislators head boards, corporations in Karnataka
After dilly-dallying for months, Karnataka's Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) government has finally appointed nine of its 37 legislators as chairmen of state-run boards and corporations, said a party official on Wednesday.
Terror funding cases: NIA carries out searches in south Kashmir
The NIA on Wednesday carried out searches at 11 locations in south Kashmir in connection with cases related to the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy and funding of separatists and terror groups, according to an official statement. The houses of Mudassir Ahmad Khan and Sajjad Bhat, active terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed and key accused in the recent terror attack at Pulwama, were searched, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) statement said. Also, the residences of active overground workers of JeM in Tral, Awantipora and Pulwama areas of south Kashmir were searched, it said. Incriminating materials, including diaries containing coded writings, have been seized, the NIA said. The probe agency said the houses of three separatist leaders of south Kashmir -- Mohd Shaban Dar, Shawkat Maulvi and Yasmine Raza -- were also searched in connection with a terror funding case. Documents related to terror funding, coded messages and Jihadi literature have been seized, it said. During the
Civil Aviation Ministry "strictly" following instructions of IAF: Jayant Sinha
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha Wednesday said his ministry was "strictly" following the "guidelines and instructions" of the Indian Air Force. Services at nine airports, including Srinagar, Jammu and Leh, in north India were temporarily suspended in view of hightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) later in the day said the services at the nine airports have resumed "as of now". "We are strictly following all guidelines of the Air Force, and we will continue to do that," Sinha said on the sidelines of an event here. Asked how many flights have been impacted, Sinha said, "I don't have the number. But, as I said, we are following the instructions of the air force." Earlier on Wednesday, the DGCA issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM), saying flight operations at the airports in Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Pathankot, Amritsar, Shimla, Kangra, Kullu Manali and Pithoragarh will remain shut from February 27 to May 27.
TN CM gives away appointment orders to kin of slain CRPF men
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Wednesday gave away appointment orders to the spouses of two CRPF jawans martyred in the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. This was in line with the government's earlier announcement that it will provide job on compassionate grounds to one kin each of the slain soldiers, an official release here said. Accordingly, the chief minister gave away appointment orders to Krishnaveni, wife of the late G Subramanian, and Gandhimathi, spouse of the late C Sivachandran, it said. The government had earlier given the families a cash relief of Rs 20 lakh each. Subramanian and Sivachandran hailed from Tuticorin and Ariyalur districts, respectively, in the state. They were among the 40 CRPF jawans who were killed in a suicide attack by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group in Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14.
Whereabouts of IAF pilot Abhinandan not known, say govt sources
The whereabouts of IAF pilot Abhinandan are not known, government sources said on Wednesday, hours after the Pakistan Army claimed it shot down two Indian military aircraft over Pakistani air space and arrested two pilots. The Pakistan Army released a 46-second video showing a blindfolded man claiming he is IAF's Wing Commander Abhinandan. "I am an IAF officer. My service No is 27981," the man is seen as saying in the video. The veracity of the video could not be ascertained. Sources here did not give details of Abhinandan's designation.
Railways issue security alert across network
Indian Railways has issued a security alert across its network in view of the escalating tension with Pakistan, a senior official of the Railway Protection Force said Wednesday. Security has been beefed up on board all trains operating in border areas and on railway premises, he said. "We have issued an alert to all General Managers of zones in view of the prevailing security scenario. All trains to the mainland and valley in Jammu and Kashmir have additional security personnel on board. We have also identified specific targets related to railways and have beefed up security there," RPF DG, Arun Kumar told PTI. He also said that no trains to Jammu and Kashmir have been cancelled so far.
IAF pushes back Pakistani jets, downs PAF F-16
India-Pakistan tensions persisted on Wednesday as the IAF chased away intruding Pakistani fighter jets in Jammu and Kashmir's Nowshera sector with India shooting down a Pakistani F-16 which fell on the Pakistani side.