Page 1486 - Politics
Congress Working Committee meet postponed
Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Congress on Wednesday postponed the meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) scheduled for Thursday in Ahmedabad.
Top security, intel officials meet at PMO
Top security and intelligence officials Wednesday huddled into a meet at the prime minister's office in the wake of Pakistan Air Force jets violating the Indian airspace, sources said. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, senior officials of the Indian Navy, Army and the Air Force and other security officials were holding a meeting to discuss the current security situation, they said. Earlier in the day, a PAF F-16 fighter jet was shot down by Indian air defence forces in Rajouri sector of Jammu region. The aircraft was brought down in Jhangar area of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri sector.
Trinamool leader complains against professor for 'objectionable' post
A Trinamool Congress leader here has lodged a complaint against a professor of Rabindra Bharati University for "objectionable" social media post related to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other leaders of the party, police said on Wednesday.
Cong postpones its CWC meeting slated to be held in Ahmedabad on Thursday
The Congress on Wednesday postponed its working committee meeting slated in Ahmedabad on Thursday in view of the security situation prevailing on the border. "In view of the prevailing security situation, the Congress leadership has decided to postpone its meeting of the working committee slated to be held in Ahmedabad on Thursday," Congress' Chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. He also said Congress president Rahul Gandhi has postponed his public meetings in Ahmedabad as well. The party top brass was expected to attend the meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision making body of the party. Gandhi was to later address a public meeting in Ahmedabad, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Pakistan closes its airspace for commercial flights
Pakistan Wednesday closed its airspace for commercial flights and suspended flight operations across major airports, including in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, for an indefinite period in the wake of the escalating tensions with India. Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority made the announcement after the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations, the military's media arm, acknowledged the closure of Pakistan's airspace due to the prevailing security situation. The airport will be used for "military purposes" till it is reopened for commercial activities, an official told DawnNewsTV, adding that a red alert has also been issued. "All civilian flight operations have been suspended," the official said. Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Mujtaba Baig said the flight operations in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces have been suspended for an indefinite period. He said the flight operations from and to Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi/Islamabad airports have .
India is safe in the hands of Modi: Paswan
Bharatiya Janata Party ally Lok Janshakti Party chief and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday said that the country is fully safe in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as was reflected in the air strikes against the biggest training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) at Balakot in Pakistan.
Nigeria opposition rejects President Buhari's re-election
Nigeria's opposition leader on Wednesday rejected the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in a delayed poll plagued by claims of rigging, vowing to challenge the "sham" result in court. "If I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South," Atiku Abubakar said in a statement. "Consequently, I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019 sham election and will be challenging it in court.
Pakistan dangerous for entire world: Sena
A day after Indian fighter jets bombed the biggest camp of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday demanded continuous operations, dubbing the neighbouring country "dangerous" for the entire world. The Sena, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', said there cannot be peace across the globe until Pakistan is wiped off the world map. In remarks laced with sarcasm, it sought to know whether the terror launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) were "cultural centres", as according to that country's Prime Minister Imran Khan, there was no terrorist activity originating from its soil. "There cannot be world peace until Pakistan is eliminated from the global map. Countries like Pakistan are dangerous not only for India, but the entire world. There is no democracy in Pakistan, so their army chief misuses power in the name of prime minister and the government," it said. In a pinpointed and swift air strike that lasted less than two minutes, ...
China again urges Pakistan, India to show restraint, seek dialogue
China called on Pakistan and India on Wednesday to "exercise restraint" and seek dialogue after Islamabad claimed it shot down two Indian warplanes in its airspace over disputed Kashmir. "We hope that both India and Pakistan can exercise restraint, take initiatives that are conducive to promoting dialogue, meet halfway and make active efforts for lasting peace and stability in South Asia," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.
CPI, CPI(M) to meet on Mar 2 to discuss poll pact in Telangana
CPI and CPI(M) leaders are meeting here March 2 to hold discussions on electoral alliance for Lok Sabha poll in Telangana, with the Left parties also expecting Jana Sena of Pawan Kalyan to join forces with them later. The CPI and CPI(M) had gone separate ways in the December 7, 2018 Assembly elections in Telangana. The CPI was part of the Congress-led 'Prajakutami' (People's Front) which also had the Telugu Desam Party and the Telangana Jana Samiti, while CPI(M) had fought under the Bahujan Left Front (BLF) banner that had some smaller parties. The Left parties say they have a strong base in four Lok Sabha constituencies -- Nalgonda, Bhuvanagiri, Mahabubabad and Khammam, and sources said the CPI and CPI(M) may contest two seats each. According to CPI(M) sources, some partners of the BLF are also likely to be part of the proposed alliance. State Secretary of CPI(M), Tammineni Veerabhadram noted that the Jana Sena, headed by actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan, is already
Airspace north of Delhi vacated, say official sources
The entire airspace north of the Indian capital has been vacated, official sources said on Wednesday. The skies above New Delhi were vacated as nine airports in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab were closed for civilian air traffic on a day of rapidly escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was holding a high level meeting to assess the security situation in the wake of the developments of the morning, including Pakistan claiming that it had shot down two Indian military jets and arrested two pilots. India said Pakistan jets intruded into Indian air space in the Rajouri and Poonch sectors.
Iranian President refuses to accept Zarif's resignation
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday refused to accept the resignation of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Trump promises North Korea 'AWESOME' future ahead of nuclear talks
US President Donald Trump touted North Korea's "AWESOME" future if his "friend" Kim Jong Un, whom he meets for a high-stakes dinner later Wednesday, agrees to give up his nuclear arsenal. Trump's enthusiastic tweet came hours before a second summit in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi to build on their historic first meeting in Singapore last June. In just a few words, Trump encapsulated his fervent belief that only his uniquely personal brand of diplomacy and business acumen can break a stand-off with the isolated, nuclear-armed state that has bedevilled US leaders ever since the end of the Korean war in 1953. Trump, who has previously spoken of the "love" between him and the North Korean strongman, said that by abandoning nuclear weapons the country would very quickly emulate Vietnam -- a communist country once locked in conflict with the United States, but now a thriving trade partner. "The potential is AWESOME, a great opportunity, like almost none other in history, for my friend Kim ..
Pak's fighter plane shot down by Indian forces in Nowshera
An F-16 fighter plane of the Pakistan Air Force was reportedly shot down after it violated the Indian air space in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said.The plane was seen going down in Lam valley, about 3 kilometers within Pakistan territory.A parachute was seen dropping but the fate of the pilot is not known.Indian forces are on high alert since the IAF air strike was conducted on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot yesterday.
SC refuses to pass further order on attacks on Kashmiris
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to pass further orders in the case concerning apprehensions of attacks on Kashmiris in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack.The top court today took note of the central government's submission that no incident against any Kashmiri students has taken place since its February 22 order directing all states to take strict action against violence after February 14 attack.A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi also asked the Centre and 10 states to file a reply in seven days on the plea filed against the attack on Kashmiri students.There have been reports of persecution of Kashmiri students and others in different parts of the country following the Pulwama terror attack in which around 40 CRPF soldiers were killed.Pakistan based and backed Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack.
RIC meet: India strong contender to become UNSC permanent member, says Sushma Swaraj
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday said that India is a strong contender to become a permanent member of United Nations Security Council (UNSC)."It is necessary to expand the United Nations Security Council and India is a strong contender to become a permanent member of the UNSC," Swaraj told the media after Russia-India-China (RIC) meet here.She further said that New Delhi has proposed in the meeting for the establishment of UN-led global counter-terrorism mechanism and finalising Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) to combat the menace of terrorism in the world."We have also discussed that there is an urgent requirement to bring changes in the United Nations to maintain its impact on the world. We need a global strategy, global cooperation. I'm happy to tell you today we discussed the establishment of UN-led global counter-terrorism mechanism and finalising CCIT, proposed by India to implement it," he added.Swaraj's remarks have come a day ...
Day after air strike, Pak jets violate Indian air space, dropping bombs; One F-16 fighter shot down
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 bombs in Rajouri sector after which one of their fighters was shot down.Amid fears of a military escalation between India and Pakistan, international flights that transit between the two countries have been affected, with some flights returning to the place of their origin while some others seeking alternate routes, officials said.Pakistani fighter planes violated the Indian airspace in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir and dropped bombs on their way out, officials said.Craters were reportedly spotted at the places where the bombs were dropped by the Pakistani jets but there were no reports of any casualty.Shortly thereafter, an F-16 fighter of the Pakistan Air Force was reportedly shot down and was seen falling in Lam area, about three kilometres inside Pakistan, officials said.A parachute ..
2 Indian aircraft shot, 2 IAF pilots arrested: claims Pakistan
Pakistan on Wednesday claimed that it shot down two Indian military aircraft over Pakistani air space and arrested two pilots. However, there was no official confirmation from the Indian government. In a 46-second video released by the Pakistan Army, a blindfolded man claimed that he's IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan. "I am an IAF officer. My service No is 27981," the man said in the video. However, the veracity of the video could not be ascertained. Pakistani military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor claimed that two IAF pilots were arrested. One pilot is injured and has been shifted to a hospital, while another one is unhurt, the spokesman added. He said one of the aircraft crashed in Pakistan occupied Kashmir while the other fell in Jammu and Kashmir.
PM cuts short function, rushes to review security situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cuts short his address at a function in Vigyan Bhawan on Wednesday and rushed to attend a meeting to review the security situation arising out of Pakistan's attempt to violate Indian air space.Modi was replying to the questions from youngsters during the National Youth Festival 2019 when he was handed over a small piece of paper by an official of Prime Minister Office (PMO).The Prime Minister immediately stopped and walked toward the panelist where Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore was also present.The PM waived at the audience and immediately left the dais and rushed to his office.The government is in a huddle to discuss the security situation arising out of February 26 development after Indian Air Force bombed a vast and advance Jaish-e-Mohammad terror training camp in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan.
Iran's president rejects resignation of his foreign minister
Iran's president rejected the resignation of his foreign minister on Wednesday, throwing his full support behind the diplomat who negotiated the country's nuclear deal with world powers as both men face growing pressure from hard-liners as the accord unravels under American pressure. President Hassan Rouhani earlier gave a speech praising Mohammad Javad Zarif after the foreign minister's sudden resignation shocked the Islamic Republic late on Monday night. His rejection of the resignation, reported by the state-run IRNA news agency, continued that praise. "Since I consider you in the front line of resistance against broad pressures by the U.S., I consider acceptance of your resignation against the expedience of the country and I do not agree with it," Rouhani reportedly told Zarif. It's unclear what will happen next. Zarif could stop going to work at the Foreign Ministry, forcing Rouhani's hand. But there's no precedent for that in the history of the Islamic Republic. Zarif more than .