Page 1502 - Politics
Non-members allowed to seek party tickets: Kamal Haasan
Makkal Needhi Maiam Tuesday announced that non-members would be allowed to seek party tickets to contest the coming Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to reporters here, the party president Kamal Haasan said applications can be procured from February 28 to March 7 at a cost of Rs 10,000 each. "This is not just for MNM members. But people also should take part. Non-members can also recommend a prospective candidate from a district or zone if they think the person would come out as a best MP," he said. Talking to reporters here, Haasan asserted that his party would join hands only with like-minded parties. "We are not going to join hands with those with whom we are having differences of opinion. Having such concurrence with allies is very important, that is why we are not hurrying on fixing an alliance," he said, adding talks were going on. Asked if there was a change in his stand on contesting alone, Haasan said, "Earlier we had said if there is a necessity we would contest ...
Parties hail IAF strike; BJP says India safe under Modi's leadership
Various political parties Tuesday hailed India's preemptive strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed's terror camps in Pakistan, with the BJP asserting the country is safe under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decisive leadership and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi lauding the Indian Air Force for its action. The Indian Air Force's strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan underscores the willpower and resolve a new India, BJP president Amit Shah said, asserting that it has shown that the country is safe under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong and decisive leadership. "I congratulate and salute the bravery and valour of our armed forces. Today's action further demonstrates that India is safe and secure under the strong and decisive leadership of PM Nrendra Modi," he said. "Our New India will not spare any acts of terror and their perpetrators and patrons," Shah added. Opposition leaders also hailed the IAF for its valour. Lauding the pilots of the Indian Air Force Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "I salute the ..
Palaniswami, Stalin, film stars hail air strikes in Pakistan
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and DMK President M K Stalin, among others, Tuesday hailed India's early morning air strikes in Pakistan, where IAF fighter jets destroyed terrorist launch pads. Veteran star Rajinikanth and actor-politician Kamal Haasan also hailed the strikes,which struck Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) biggest camp in Pakistan early Tuesday in a major "preemptive" action. A large number of terrorists and trainers of the Pak-based terror group preparing to carry out suicide attacks in India were killed in the attack. Palaniswami lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the air strikes, commending him for his "bold" efforts against terrorism. Modi was tasting success in rooting out terrorism, which was threatening the entire world, the chief minister said in a statement and lauded him on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu. "I extend my greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to whose bold functioning, a successful air strike has been carried out ...
China calls for 'restraint' after India's airstrikes on terror targets in Pakistan
China on Tuesday urged India and Pakistan to "exercise restraint" and asked New Delhi to carry out its fight against terrorism through international cooperation, hours after Indian fighter jets struck Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest camp in Pakistan in a pre-dawn attack. When asked for China's response to India's airstrikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told the media here that we have taken note of relevant reports." "I want to say that India and Pakistan are both important countries in South Asia. A sound relationship and cooperation between the two serves the interests of both the countries and peace and stability in South Asia," he said. "We hope that both India and Pakistan can exercise restraint and do more to improve mutual their bilateral relations," he said.
PM says country in safe hands
In his first public comments after the air strikes in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said the country is in safe hands and that he will not let the country down. The prime minister stressed that nothing was above the nation. "Today is a day to pay homage to India's bravehearts. I want to assure you that the country is in safe hands," he said at a public rally here. "I vow that I will not let the country bow down," he said. In a swift and precise air strike following the Pulwama attack, India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Pakistan early Tuesday, killing a "very large number" of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders. The operation, described as a non-military, preemptive strike, was welcomed by the entire political spectrum and military experts who had been advocating retribution after the February 14 suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama claimed by JeM.
Mizoram lodges complaint on Army presence along border areas
The Mizoram government has lodged a complaint with the Defence and the Home ministries over the deployment of a large number of Indian troops along the Mizoram-Myanmar border without informing the state government, a senior official said Tuesday. The complaint, lodged by state Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, mentioned that law and order is a state subject and the Centre "should not take such steps" without informing the government, the official said. "Even if the Centre sent the troops to meet the external challenges in the border areas... it should inform the state government," the complaint said.
Kerala Govt convenes all-party meeting to regulate hartals
: The CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala has convened an all-party meeting on March 14 to discuss the issue of regulating hartals. The meeting, in which leaders of both ruling and opposition parties are expected to participate, would be held at the conference hall of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Secretariat here, an official statement said here Tuesday. The Chief Minister had recently assured the state assembly that an all-party meeting would be called against the frequent hartals, it said. When legislators had pointed to the widespread violence during the back to back hartals called in connection with the Sabarimala women's entry issue, Vijayan had informed the House that his government was open to discuss the matter with political parties. The Kerala High Court had on January 7 banned calling of flash hartals and had said a seven day notice was mandatory for declaring hartals. The court had issued the order while hearing a petition moved by the Kerala ...
Pak must elimiate terrorism else face consequences: A K Antony
The Congress party on Tuesday lauded the Indian Air Force for destroying a number of terrorist camps across the LoC in Pakistan, hours after India confirmed that its Air Force carried out "pre-emptive non-military action" at Pakistan backed-Jaieh-e-Mohammad camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir."By this heroic action, India Air Force has restored the prestige and morale of the Indian people and our armed forces," senior Congress party leader and former defence minister AK Antony told ANI.India on Tuesday carried out air strikes at JeM terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, eliminating a "large number" of terrorists, including top commanders, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale confirmed.He added that credible intelligence was received that the JeM was planning to carry out more suicide attacks in India after a terror strike on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama 12 days ago that killed 40 personnel.Antony warned Pakistan that it should eliminate terrorism emanating from its ..
Twitterati react to IAF air strikes across LoC
As the reports of late night air strikes by the Indian Air Force on Tuesday surfaced on social media, people took to Twitter to react to the news, with #SurgicalStrike2 going viral online.Hashtags #IndianAirForce, #IndiaStrikesBack, and #Balakot, were a few that have also gone viral.One user tweeted, "Revenge is a dish best served cold. ..... and after midnight."Another user shared a funny meme with the caption, "Pakistanis right now #Surgicalstrike2 #Balakot #IndiaStrikesBackA user who claims to be a proud Indian and 'sports lover' could not help but draw an allusion to the IAF operation and a game of cricket. He shared a picture with the caption, "Once again Pakistan gets run-out without knowing what actually happened #Balakot #Surgicalstrike2."Emotions are running high, as many users tweeted against Pakistan Sympathisers, who earlier had put up the hashtag #howsthejaish.Taking a jibe at this hastag, one user wrote, "#Surgicalstrike2 How's the Josh? High Sir.. How's the Jaish? Dead .
NSA along with Army, IAF chiefs review security on border
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval along with Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief BS Dhanoa is reviewing the security situation on the borders after Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out air strikes at a massive Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province early on Tuesday.The Indian Air Force has already put on high alert all air defence systems along the international border and Line of Control (LoC) to respond to any possible action by Pakistan Air Force.Indian Air Force, in the early hours of Tuesday, carried out multiple aerial strikes at terror launch pads at various places in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), completely destroying them, including control rooms of JeM terror group. The terror camps in Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad were struck by 12 Mirage 2000 jets with 1000 kg of explosives at around 3:30 am, IAF sources told ANI. India's response came 12 days after a CRPF convoy was attacked by a suicide bomber in Jammu and .
PM Modi briefs President, VP about IAF air strikes at PoK terror camps: Sources
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday briefed President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu about the Indian Air Force strike at Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps in Balakot across Line of Control (LoC)."India on Tuesday carried out air strikes at a massive Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, eliminating a "large number" of terrorists, including top commanders," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said here in a press conference.Following the IAF attack on the terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security to take stock of the situation.The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.The JeM control room was completely destroyed in the air strike, sources said.It is worth mentioning that JeM ...
Pak should know India won't sit back due to fear of escalation: Lt Gen (Retd) D S Hooda
Lt Gen DS Hooda (Retd) on Tuesday hailed the Indian Air Force for attacking terrors camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said Pakistan should know that India will not sit back due to fear of escalation."My compliment goes to the government for taking this action and also to the Air Force for the way they have carried out this strike (in Balakot) in an absolutely professional manner, Lt Gen DS Hooda (Retd) and the Northern Army Commander during the 'Surgical Strike' in 2016 told ANI."All pilots are safe. It was needed to be done. I personally had no doubt in my mind after the Pulwama attack that some strong action will be taken by the government. When Pakistan continues to do terror activities against India, it doesn't mean we will sit back because of fear of escalation. And as a military we are much more superior than Pakistan," he added."India on Tuesday carried out air strikes at a massive Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber ...
Stunned Pakistan says it will respond appropriately to Indian air strike
Soon after Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale made the official announcement about the air strike, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Prime Minister Imran Khan has called a meeting to discuss the issue."It is a grave aggression by India. We had told the world community that such a step could be taken by India," he told state-owned Pakistan Television.He said Pakistan reserves the right to give a "proper reply" and it will give it.Earlier Gokhale said India had hit the largest Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, eliminating a "large number" of terrorists, including top commanders.The terror camp in a thick forest area atop a hill was led by Ustad Gauri, brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar, Gokhale said, making a statement before the media, hours after the air strikes using Mirage 2000 were carried out.He said the "pre-emptive" strike by India had become absolutely necessary as there was credible information that ...
The actions have begun, says CM Nitish Kumar after Indian air strikes across LoC
"Action against terrorism has begun," said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday lauding the air strikes by Indian Air Force (IAF) at a massive Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province."There is anger in everyone's mind against terrorism. I know this is natural. Now the actions have begun against it," said the Chief Minister."India on Tuesday carried out air strikes at a massive Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, eliminating a "large number" of terrorists, including top commanders," said Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.The terror camp in a thick forest area atop a hill was led by Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Gauri, brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar, Gokhale said while making a statement before the media, hours after the air strikes using Mirage 2000 were carried out.He said the "pre-emptive" strike by India had become absolutely necessary as there was credible information that JeM, which recently
Target of air strikes Azhar Yusuf was involved in 1999 IA plan hijack
Azhar alias Ustad Gauri was heading the terror camp in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which was targeted and destroyed by the Indian Air Force early this morning.After the air strike, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told the media that a large number of Jaish terrorists, including top commanders, trainers and those terrorists who were to be the 'fidayeen' (suicide attackers) were eliminated.According to Interpol notice, Azhar alias Mohd Salim hailed from Karachi and could speak Urdu, Hindi and Pakistani.He was involved in the hijacking of IC-814 from Nepal to Kandahar in December 1999, which ended with the release of Masood Azhar and two other terrorists. Masood Azhar later floated the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror outfit which was responsible for a series of attacks in India, including the one on Parliament and the recently in Pulwama in Kashmir.Jaish-e-Mohammad terror outfit, Gokhale pointed out, has been active in Pakistan for last two decades but Pakistan government has always denied its
India will crush Pakistan: Defence experts on IAF strikes
India will crush Pakistan, claimed defence experts on Tuesday, after IAF carried out multiple air strikes across Line of Control in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Defence expert Shivali Deshpande told ANI that this is just a beginning for Pakistan."Mirage 2000 Indian fighter jets have completely destroyed these terror camps, just imagine 12 Mirage jets going with that thunder and bombing these terror camps destroying them and putting about 1000 kg of ammunition...What big destruction might have caused by these aircraft. The air strikes in PoK are just a beginning for Pakistan because India is going to crush you (Pakistan) down in a very very big manner very soon," Deshpande said.Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said here in a press conference, "India on Tuesday carried out air strikes at a massive JeM camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, eliminating a large number of terrorists, including top commanders."Echoing similar sentiments, another defence expert Rakesh
India briefs foreign countries on air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan
After the air strikes on Tuesday, India initiated the process of briefing foreign countries about the development.Diplomats are being briefed in South Block by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on air strikes carried out at a massive Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.Foreign diplomats from the USA, UK, Russia, Australia, Indonesia, Turkey and six ASEAN nations are being briefed by the Foreign Secretary.Twelve days after Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force carried out multiple aerial strikes at terror launch pads at various places in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, destroying control rooms of JeM and some other infrastructure.The terror camps in Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad, capital of PoK, were struck by 12 Mirage 2000 jets with 1000 kg of explosives at around 3:30 am, IAF sources said.The targets included the control rooms of JeM outfit which carried out a terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14 in ..
Refrain from going to war, Shehbaz Sharif tells India
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged India to refrain from plunging the region into war after the IAF struck the Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan.
UP leaders laud IAF action
Uttar Pradesh political leaders from across party lines lauded the Indian Air Force (IAF) for its operation conducted in Pakistan-administered Kashmir early on Tuesday.
Karnataka CM hails IAF for air strike against JeM
Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday hailed the Indian Air Force (IAF) for carrying out air strikes against Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) training camp at Balakot, reportedly killing a large number of terrorists and their trainers.