Page 1495 - Politics
IAF avenges JeM suicide bombing, Pakistan vows 'befitting response' (Fourth Lead)
In a chilling message to Pakistan that it cannot keep messing with India, the IAF bombed the Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) biggest training camp killing "a very large number" of terrorists and their trainers in a pre-dawn operation on Tuesday -- exactly 12 days after a JeM suicide bomber killed 40 CRPF troopers in the Kashmir Valley.
HC takes note of EC guidelines' violation on expenditure disclosure
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Election Commission to file an affidavit indicating its powers to ensure implementation or enforcement of guidelines regarding disclosure of expenditure by political parties.
Situation would improve after May, hope many Pakistanis
Hawks will give a very tough time to doves. That's how a Pakistani official captured the sentiment as India struck at terror camps in Pakistan on Tuesday in retaliation for the February 14 attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.
Delhi 2019-20 budget bundle of false statements: BJP
Describing the AAP government's 2019-20 budget as a bundle of "false statements", the Delhi BJP on Tuesday said the Arvind Kejriwal-led government did its best to hide its "misgovernance" to implement major schemes. Reacting to the 2019-20 budget presented by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said it was based on "distorted financial interpretation of ground realities" and has disappointed residents of Delhi. "It has brought immense disappointment to Delhiites. The government did its best to hide its misgovernance, failure to implement major schemes according to pre-set timelines during the financial year 2018-19," he said. Gupta said this year's budget was of great importance and it could have become an instrument of fulfilling the promises made by the AAP in its election manifesto in 2015. "Much to the disappointment of public, there remains a wide chasm between the promises made in the manifesto and ...
Attack aimed at subverting general elections: CPI-M
Even though there has been an all-round appreciation of India's action on Tuesday against terror camps operating from the Pakistani soil, the Kerala unit of CPI-M feels otherwise.
Civil aviation ministry to organise 'flying for all' conclave on Feb 27
The Ministry of Civil Aviation Tuesday said it is organising a conclave here on February 27 on the theme -- 'flying for all' -- where more than 200 delegates including industry leaders and regulators will deliberate on issues and opportunities in the sector. "This Conclave (the Aviation Conclave 2019) is about the future of Indian aviation -- bringing together industry leaders, government and regulators for setting the tone and propelling us to realize our Vision-2040," Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said Tuesday. He added that realizing the "government's vision of making 'flying for all' a reality underpins the government's commitment to bring about a veritable revolution in the Indian aviation sector". More than 30 industry leaders will discuss and deliberate across five-key sessions issues such as the drone-ecosystem policy roadmap, roadmap for manufacturing aircraft and associated equipment including regional transport aircraft in India, the Project Rupee Raftaar- aircraft .
Avoid taking action that will pose risk to regional stability: UK tells India, Pak
The UK government Tuesday urged India and Pakistan to avoid taking action that will pose a risk to regional stability and said it was working with international partners to ensure that those responsible for the Pulwama terror attack are held to account. In its latest statement, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it was engaged in talks with both sides. "We are concerned by rising tensions. We are encouraging both sides to avoid taking action that will pose a risk to regional stability," an FCO spokesperson said. "The UK is working closely with international partners, including in the United Nations Security Council, to ensure that those responsible for the Pulwama attack are held to account," the spokesperson said. Earlier, the FCO said in a statement, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt held telephonic conversations with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday. "The Foreign Secretary highlighted the UK's concern
None killed in police firing, not aware of additional force deployment: Arunachal home minister
Expressing dismay over the violence that broke out here over the issue of granting permanent residence to non-natives, Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Kumar Waii Tuesday denied reports that three persons were killed in police firing during the protests. The minister also claimed he wasn't aware of deployment of additional companies of the ITBP and the CRPF in the state capital, fuelling speculations of a rift within the Pema Khandu-led government. "I am deeply shocked to learn about the death of three youths, but none of them was killed in police firing. I had directed DGP SBK Singh and SP (Itanagar) M Harsh Vardhan to put the trouble mongers behind bars without any violence," he said, while responding to a volley of questions from media persons. On Sunday, sources had said three persons were killed and as many injured when police opened fire on the agitators. Protests had broken out in Itanagar and Naharlagun town on Saturday after the ruling BJP government announced that it was ...
Cong govt depriving C'garh farmers of PM-Kisan benefits: BJP
The BJP Tuesday accused the Congress-led Chhattisgarh government of not providing details of farmers eligible for benefits under the Centre's PM-Kisan, a direct cash transfer scheme. In the interim Budget 2019-20, the Union government had announced the PM-Kisan scheme under which Rs 6,000 per year will be given in three instalments to 12 crore small and marginal farmers holding cultivable land up to two hectares. Cornering the Bhupesh Baghel government in the state Assembly, BJP MLAs sought a discussion on the issue through an adjournment motion notice. Raising the issue after Question Hour, BJP MLA Shivratan Sharma said as many as 30 lakh small and marginal farmers of the state will be benefited under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana but the Congress government had not yet provided a record of eligible farmers to the Centre. Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik said the scheme was for the benefit of farmers and the state government should not allow it to fall prey to ...
Mirage 2000, Sukhoi-30s, AWACS part of IAF's operation on JeM camp in Balakot
The Indian Air Force struck at Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest terrorist training camp at Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, using 12 Mirage 2000 aircraft supported by a fleet of Sukhoi 30 jets, a mid-air refueller and two Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), official sources said. They said all the bases of the IAF have been put on maximum alert to deal with any possible retaliation by Islamabad to the strike, the first by the IAF inside Pakistan after the 1971 war. The sources said the IAF jets used a number of laser-guided bombs, each weighing over 1,000 kg, to destroy the the JeM training facility in Balakot, around 80 KM from the Line of Control. The operation began around 3:45 AM and concluded by 4:05 AM while the actual strike lasted for less than two minutes. The aircraft took off from a number of bases, they said. The entire operation was monitored from the Air headquarters in Delhi by top commanders of the IAF including Chief of Air Staff Air Chief ...
Deaf-mute youth withdraw agitation after Maharashtra government accepts demands
Over 3,000 deaf-mute youth and students from across Maharashtra called off their two-day-old agitation after the state government conceded a majority of their demands, here on Tuesday.
Air strikes a matter of pride for every Indian: Chavan
Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan Tuesday lauded the IAF for conducting air strikes on terror camps inside Pakistan and said words are not enough to describe the valour of personnel involved in the operation. He said the Indian Army should now target Masood Azhar, the founder of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e- Mohammed (JeM) which had claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF personnel. "The air strike was a matter of pride and happiness of each and every Indian. Our soldiers not only destroyed terror camps but also returned safely," the former chief minister said. "Pakistanwill know once againwhat the Indian might is. In 1971, the Indian Armyshowed its bravery against Pakistan which led to the creation of Bangladesh. As many as 91,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered," Chavan said. The Lok Sabha MP from Nanded said the time has come to "crush" Pakistan for harbouring anti-India elements. "The Indian Army should now target
Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar: A blue-eyed boy of ISI
Maulana Masood Azhar, the chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed group, whose terror academy in Balakot faced a blitzkrieg from Indian Air Force jets early Tuesday, is a fugitive released by India in exchange of passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999 and has since been a blue-eyed boy of Pakistan's external snooping agency ISI. Nearly 20 years after his release, during which he staged some audacious terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and hinterland, his Balakot camp was in the cross hairs of Mirage 2000 jets which clinched spectacular air attack on the resort-like facility, where he trained terrorists to be sent to India to carry out Pulwama-like attacks. Azhar, who was in the custody of Indian forces, was not a hard nut to crack. A former police officer, who interrogated Azhar after his arrest in 1994, said he got shaken up on the first "slap" from an army jawan prompting him to blurt out details of his movements. He was arrested in Anantnag in South Kashmir in February .
Parrikar congratulates IAF for 'daring operations'
Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday congratulated the Indian Air Force for its "daring operations", in view of the early morning strike at the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in Pakistan.
Parrikar hails IAF for Pak terror camp strike
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Tuesday congratulated Indian Air Force for launching a strike on a terror camp in Pakistan in which up to 350 terrorists and trainers are believed to have been killed. Within minutes after he was discharged from the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) this evening, Parrikar, 63, took to twitter and praised the Air Force. "I salute the #IndianAirForce for its daring operations. It is a testimony to the IAF's unparalleled strike capabilities. The new India under Shri.@narendramodi ji believes in its forces, and makes no compromise on terrorism and national security," tweeted the former defence minister who had supervised the 2016 surgical strike across the LoC. India conducted a major preemptive strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) training camp early Tuesday, killing a "very large number" of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said.
Amarinder for Chandigarh's inclusion in open sky policy
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has sought Chandigarh's inclusion among the Indian cities notified under India's Open Sky Policy to enable operation of to and fro flights to ASEAN countries from here. In a semi-official letter to Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu, he said the International Civil Terminal at SAS Nagar (Mohali) has been functioning for the last three years and is set to be upgraded to Code 4E status from April one for launch of 24x7 operations of wide-bodied aircraft, an official statement said here. The airport caters to the travel needs of not only people from Chandigarh but also to international passengers from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Uttrakhand, he said. The state government would take all possible steps to support the growth of civil aviation and to harness its benefit for overall growth of the region, the chief minister wrote. At present, the airport is unable to operate direct flights to international destinations in ASEAN countries, ...
Australia asks India, Pak to exercise restraint following IAF airstrikes
Australia on Tuesday urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint following the airstrikes by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on a terror camp in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.This came after India carried out air strikes deep inside Pakistan, destroying a major camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and eliminating a "large number" of terrorists, including top commanders, of the terror group which attacked CRPF convoy in Pulwama on February 14.Amid heightened tensions between the two countries, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Islamabad will respond to any "uncalled aggression" from New Delhi and warned India to be prepared for any "events of eventualities".Responding to the development, Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement, "Australia urges both sides to exercise restraint, avoid any action which would endanger peace and security in the region and engage in dialogue to ensure that these issues are resolved ...
It's time terrorism should be tackled effectively, says Baloch activist
World Baloch Women's Forum (WBWF) president and prominent Baloch activist Professor Naela Quadri Baloch on Tuesday heaped praises on the Indian government for conducting aerial strikes on a major terror camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Pakistan, saying that it is time that terrorism should be effectively addressed.In a video message, Baloch said, "I would like to congratulate India regarding the airstrike. Finally, the Indian government took action and gave a befitting reply (to Pakistan). Pakistan cannot deny this strike. The terror groups operating on Pakistani soil is against humanity."The Baloch activist added that although India has been taking strong actions against terrorism, she alleged that it is the Pakistani military which is backing and nourishing these outfits."The people of Baloch are with the people of India and just like India, Balochistan is also suffering due to the terrorists operating in Pakistan," Baloch added.She further outlined that "everyone is realising the .
Satisfied with Indian govt's briefing on IAF strikes: Dean of Diplomatic Corp
Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Hans Castellanos on Tuesday expressed satisfaction on being brief by the Indian government about the IAF air strikes carried out to destroy terror camps in Pakistan.Sharing the details of the briefing, Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Hans Castellanos said the air strikes did not affect any civilian or any Pak military installation and that it was a direct attack carried out on the basis of credible intelligence.Castellanos told ANI, "We have just briefed the same thing that the foreign secretary said to the media. The fact that we get a briefing from the foreign secretary directly avoids any misinformation that we might get from other sources."On being asked his reaction on the IAF strike, "It is not for me to have an opinion. We informed our government about what happened and the information is that they acted responsibly and did not affect any civilian population or any Pakistani military installation. It was a very directed attack due to credible intelligence ...
Pakistan claims three IAF fighter formations approached border, only one crossed
The Pakistan army said on Tuesday that before Indian Air Force (IAF) jets breached the Line of Control (LoC) in the Muzaffarabad sector, there were two other teams that approached the border in the Sialkot-Lahore and Okara-Bahawalpur areas but went back after they were challenged by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) combat air patrols.