Page 1510 - Politics
CWC meeting to be held in Gujarat after 58 years
After almost six decades, a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body, will be held in Mahatma Gandhi's Gujarat. All the top party leaders will attend the meet here on February 28.
Iraq to prosecute 13 French IS fighters seized in Syria: president
Iraqi courts will prosecute 13 French citizens captured while fighting for the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria, Iraq's President Barham Saleh said Monday. The fighters, who were turned over to Iraq after being seized by Syrian Kurdish forces, "will be judged according to Iraqi law," Saleh told a news conference after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. "Those who have engaged in crimes against Iraq and Iraqi installations and personnel, we are definitely seeking them and seeking their trial in Iraqi courts," he said. An Iraqi government source in Baghdad had told AFP earlier Monday that 14 French fighters had been brought to Iraq by the US-backed forces trying to dislodge IS jihadists from their last bastion in Syria. France has long maintained that any of its nationals caught in Syria or Iraq should be tried locally, a stance which critics say could leave them facing the death penalty, which is outlawed in France. Macron reiterated this position Monday, saying
AAP govt's outcome budget driven by narrow political considerations: BJP
The Bharatiya Janta Party on Monday slammed the outcome budget presented by the Delhi government, saying it was "driven by narrow political considerations" and lacked transparency. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday presented the outcome budget of the government in the Delhi Assembly. Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said there was no impartial and independent assessment of an outside agency. "The outcome budget of both the government and LG presented by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was driven by narrow political considerations. The entire exercise lacked trust, honesty and transparency," Gupta said. He said Sisodia "praised his own government out of half-cooked information provided by his own officers". "In the outcome budget of LG, he devalued and insulted the constitutional head of his own government out of political ill-will. His facts and figures and description of achievements and obstacles were coloured by his political narrow ...
Defence Minister, service chiefs interact with India's defence attaches
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the three service chiefs Monday interacted with India's defence attaches in 42 countries during which the Pulwama terror attack and the overall security challenges facing the country figured, official sources said. The two-day conclave of the defence attaches is taking place in the backdrop of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the dastardly terror attack carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Days after the attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the armed forces have been given free hand to respond to the strike. Islamabad said it will adequately respond to any action by New Delhi. The sources said a range of issues, including the situation along the border with Pakistan, were discussed at the meeting. India's defence attache to Pakistan and Afghanistan were among those who attended the conclave. The sources said the situation along India's border with ...
Global arms control architecture 'collapsing': UN
The international arms control system is facing collapse, the United Nations chief said Monday, as he urged Russia and the US to stop the imminent demise of a crucial nuclear treaty. Secretary General Antonio Guterres used an address to the UN's Conference on Disarmament to warn that one of the cornerstones of diplomatic achievement over the last half century -- arms control -- was in "grave danger". "I will be blunt. Key components of the international arms control architecture are collapsing," Guterres said. The United States has already begun the process of withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, in response to Moscow's deployment of the 9M729 missile, prompting Russia to announce its own withdrawal. "We simply cannot afford to return to the unrestrained nuclear competition of the darkest days of the Cold War," Guterres said. "I call on the parties to the INF Treaty to use the time remaining to engage in sincere dialogue on the various issues that have .
NDA govt needs to act rationally on Art 35 A: Owaisi
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Monday said the NDA government needs to act rationally on Article 35 A of the Constitution as it is a sensitive issue. He dismissed the talk that it was a matter concerning Muslims, saying even the Hindus of Jammu would not like any tinkering with 35A (which gives certain powers to Jammu and Kashmir). "You repeatedly say that this is Muslim (issue). Even the Hindu of Jammu would not like it. A BJP MLA himself has given a statement against it. (Article) 35 A applies to the entire state, not just the Valley. That is why, we hope that the Modi government works rationally. Elections come and go.But, it is necessary to work rationally and not vigour.. This is a very sensitive matter," Owaisi told reporters here. If the government tinkers with Article 35 A, it would send a wrong message to Naga separatists with whom the government is holding talks, he claimed. "You are talking about 35 A and the Modi government itself is talking to Naga ...
Opposition leaders to meet on Feb 27 in Parliament to evolve CMP for LS polls
Leaders of a number of Opposition parties will meet in Parliament on February 27 to chalk out a 'Common Minimum Programme' for fighting the general elections, sources said. The leaders have been invited to the meeting in Parliament House library where a collective strategy will be evolved to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, they said. The opposition leaders may also work out an electoral strategy to oust the BJP from power. The opposition strategy on the Pulwana terror attack may also come up for discussion, they said. The decision to formulate a common minimum programme was mooted at the February 13 meeting of opposition leaders that included the Congress. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had earlier proposed that there be a Common Minimum Programme of opposition parties and their primary aim should be to forge state-level alliances to defeat the BJP. The last meeting was attended by Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Chief ...
UP govt gives nod for renaming two Metro stations
The Uttar Pradesh government has given its nod to change the name of two metro stations on the Dilshad Garden to New Bus Stand route which is awaiting inauguration, officials said Monday. Upon final approval, the New Bus Adda will be called 'Shaheed Sthal' and Rajendra Nagar Metro station will be known as 'Major Mohit Sharma' (Rajendra Nagar) station. Most possibly these names will be changed before inauguration of the Metro route, they said. District Magistrate Ritu Maheswari told that a request was sent to the state government by the district administration and the Ghaziabad Development Authority to change the name of two metro stations on behalf of memorandums from public representatives and Ghaziabad residents. While 'Shaheed Sthal' Metro station will be in the memory of martyrs, 'Major Mohit Sharma' Metro station will be named after the Kargil martyr. Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Nitin Ramesh Gokaran has sent a demi official letter to the Secretary of Ministry of Housing and .
Khandu blames 'forces' behind violence
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said Monday certain "forces" were behind the violent protests in the state over the granting of permanent residency to six non-native communities. Stating that the situation was limping back to normal and efforts were on to expedite it, Khandu said he sought additional forces from the Centre, which had already sent 1,000 paramilitary personnel to assist the state government in restoring peace. "I believe that there are forces behind these incidents as Arunachal is a peaceful state, particularly Itanagar," Khandu said in a statement earlier in the day. Addressing a press conference here after attending a cabinet meeting in the evening, the chief minister dismissed the Congress' demand for his resignation. "The violent protests could be politically-backed. Why should I resign?" Khandu asked. Protests broke out in Itanagar and Naharlagun town on Saturday after the ruling BJP government announced that it was considering issuing permanent ...
Rahul doesn't know rules, regulations: Rijiju on martyr status to Pulwama victims
Taking a dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju underlined that whoever sacrifices his life for the country, whether an Army personnel or someone from the central armed forces, is a martyr."Rahul Gandhi doesn't know the rules and regulations. Whoever sacrifices his life for the country is a martyr whether he is in the Army or in the Central Armed Forces," said Rijiju.Rahul had hit out at the Narendra Modi-led central government for not giving "martyr status" to the paramilitary personnel who lost lives in the Pulwama terror attack."The brave are martyred. Their families struggle. 40 Jawans give their lives but are denied the status of 'Shaheed'. While this man has never given & only taken. He's gifted Rs 30,000 Cr of their money & will live happily ever after. Welcome to Modi's NEW INDIA," Rahul had tweeted on February 21.Earlier in the wake of Pulwama attack, Rahul had declared that it was not the time for politics and that his party would ...
J-K Governor, Union Minister Jitendra Singh pay tribute to DSP Aman Thakur
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik and Union minister Jitendra Singh on Monday attended the wreath-laying ceremony to pay homage to Deputy Superintendant of Police P Aman Thakur, who was killed in an encounter with terrorists on Sunday. In the wake of the tragedy, locals raised slogans of "Pakistan murdabad" and "Bharat mata ki jai" during the ceremony. Family members of the killed DSP expressed their grief at the ceremony.Thakur, a 2011-batch Kashmir Police Service Officer, who led from the front in the operation, received critical bullet injuries in his head during the encounter. He was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.The encounter broke out after the troops of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 34 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out cordon and search operations in Tarigam area of the district Kulgam. Two other Army personnel, including a Major, were also injured in the encounter.Three terrorists .
Welfare of defence veterans our priority: Sitharaman
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that welfare of the defence veterans is a priority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union governmentWhile addressing a gathering here at the inaugural event of a war memorial, Sitharaman urged the defence personnel and veterans to retain faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Modi's leadership, under which several long pending issues pertaining to serving service personnel were addressed."This government has always strived to reach out to our veterans to ensure them of all the possible help, be it welfare measures, resettlement or medical care."In the last five years, we have fulfilled many long pending issues of our serving service personnel, the ex-servicemen and also of the dependence, the OROP, the national war memorial, the museum, they were all pending for years and it was under the able guidance of PM Modi, that they were fulfilled. He has addressed the issues in a certain time frame," she said.The defence minister said .
Pak army chief visits Headquarters Rawalpindi Corps
Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday paid a visit to the Headquarters Rawalpindi Corps where he was briefed on the operational situation along the Line of Actual Contact (LAC), Line of Control and Working Boundary (WB), amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of Pulwama terror attack."COAS visited Headquarters Rawalpindi Corps. Commander Rawalpindi Corps updated COAS on operational situation & state of readiness along Line of Actual Contact (LAC), Line of Control and Working Boundary (WB). COAS expressed satisfaction on the state of preparations & readiness," tweeted Pakistan's Army spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor.On February 22, Bajwa had visited Pakistani troops deployed at the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and instructed the troops "to be ready to face any eventuality."The recent visits came in the backdrop of the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, where 40 CRPF personnel died in
Weekly cross-LoC bus service from Poonch to Rawalakot in PoK resumes
The weekly cross-LoC bus service 'Karvan-e-Aman' from Poonch in Srinagar to Rawalakot in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) resumed on Monday, a week after its suspension, an official said.The bus service was discontinued after the Pulwama terror attack, in which as many as 40 CRPF personnel were killed on February 14."Eight passengers from PoK and two from Poonch region boarded the bus in the morning," said the official.The bus service, officially launched in 2006, covers a distance of 170-km from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK.
Amid Venezuela unrest, Pence to meet Guaido today
US Vice President Mike Pence is on his way to Colombia to meet Venezuela's self-declared interim president Juan Guaido, amidst the violent clashes along the borders of the South American nation over aid supplies to its citizens.During the visit, Pence is slated to address a meeting of the Lima Group -- a diplomatic body created by leaders mostly from Latin American countries to help mitigate the Venezuelan crisis, CNN reported.In a statement, the White House said that the US Vice President would "voice the US' unwavering support for interim President Juan Guaido and highlight the Venezuelan people's fight for democracy over dictatorship."The Lima Group - formed in 2017 to oppose Maduro's government - have rejected Maduro's victory in the last year's presidential elections and have been working alongside the US and the opposition to topple the Venezuelan leader.Guaido, who arrived in Bogota, Colombia's capital on Sunday, is currently at loggerheads with incumbent President Nicolas ...
Centre must publicly commit to retaining Article 35A for Kashmir, says Sitaram Yechury
The Centre must publicly commit to retaining Article 35A of the Constitution, which gives special privilege to the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, said CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury on Monday.In a series of tweets, Yechury said: "The Central government must make a public commitment that Article 35A will be retained intact in the Constitution. Any attempt to tamper with Article 35A will fundamentally damage the special status accorded to J & K under Article 370 of the Constitution."The Article 35A is to be heard in the Supreme Court between February 26 and 28 after a bunch of petitions challenging the Constitutional validity of giving special privileges to the permanent residents.The Article 35A of the Constitution disallows people from residing in Jammu and Kashmir, buying or owning immovable property in the state, settle permanently, or get the state government jobs.Jammu and Kashmir government's standing counsel in the Supreme Court, Shoeb Alam, moved an adjournment ...
Akhilesh slams Centre for not doing enough for poor, farmers, youths
Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday slammed the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not making efforts to uplift the poor, farmers, and other deprived sections of the society after coming to power in 2014."People are waiting for the announcement of the dates of the election so that they can remove the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power. It has done nothing for farmers, poor and unemployed youths,""At present, farmers are not even getting the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The poor are not getting the benefits of the schemes of the government," he said while addressing media persons in Lucknow.Yadav further alleged that the Central government failed to educate the people about the benefits of using toilets and have not made adequate arrangements for making 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' a success.
S Korean president calls for resumption of inter-Korean eco cooperation
South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday urged his advisors to resume economic cooperation with North Korea, underlining the need to take the lead in developing sanctions-ridden North Korea."Should North Korea's economy be opened, neighbouring countries, international organisations and global funds will take part. In the process, we must not lose our leadership. We are the masters of our own fate on the Korean Peninsula," Yonhap News Agency quoted Moon as saying in a weekly cabinet meeting at the 'Cheong Wa Dae' or the South Korean presidential office.Welcoming the upcoming summit between North Korea and the US slated to be held in Vietnam on February 27-28, Moon remarked, "The two leaders of the North and the US have come this far after walking the path that no one else walked before."Last week, the South Korean president spoke to his US counterpart Donald Trump and insisted on resuming inter-Korean economic cooperation as part of Washington's corresponding measures it could ...
Mamata Banerjee accuses PM Modi of doing 'vote politics when jawans die'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing 'vote politics when jawans die.'Referring to Pulwama terror attack on February 14 in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed, she said: "We condemn this incident and sympathise with the families of the deceased.""You (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) were aware that such an incident would take place. You had information about this. The government had intelligence inputs," she said further."The Central government was aware that such an attack can take place. There were intelligence inputs. Then why didn't they take preventive measures to protect our jawans," she said, while addressing the extended Core Committee meeting of the Trinmool Congress.Questioning that why jawans were not airlifted despite the fact that "government had instructions," Chief Minister Banerjee asked: "Why weren't 'nakas' checked? Why were the roads not sanitised?""These jawans were pushed towards death. Elections are coming. .
DMK seeks assembly by-polls in Tamil Nadu along with Lok Sabha elections
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin on Monday said that Assembly by-polls in the state should be held along with the coming Lok Sabha elections.In a statement issued, Stalin said: "In order to have an alliance with the AIADMK, BJP has given assurances for not conducting by-elections in 21 assembly constituencies along with LS elections.""I would ask the Election Commission of India to use its Constitutional freedom to conduct by-elections for 21 assembly constituencies along with the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu," he said."If the Election Commission of India collides with the BJP, it will be a historic error and a black chapter in the election history of India," warned Stalin.BJP and AIADMK on Tuesday stitched a deal to fight the coming Lok Sabha polls together in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, a day after the BJP reached a seat-sharing pact with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra for the General Elections.Under the agreement, the BJP will contest five out of the 39 Lok Sabha ..