Page 1544 - Politics
BJP on Cong roping in ex-Army Commander: 'Duplicitous' stand of Cong on surgical strikes exposed
The ruling party said it hopes that the Congress will now give credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for the surgical strikes of September 2016 on terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).The Congress party yesterday said its President Rahul Gandhi yesterday is setting up a 'Task Force on National Security' to prepare a 'vision paper' for the country and it will be led by Hooda."The irony can't be missed that after questioning the existence and veracity of surgical strikes, the Congress has roped in an Army officer who was part of planning and execution of the operation," BJP leader Nalin Kohli told ANI.Hooda was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command when the surgical strikes were carried out on September 28, 2016 following the deadly terror attack on Army camp in Uri in Kashmir 9 days earlier."We are hopeful that with his (Hooda's) presence, they (Congress) will give credit to PM Narendra Modi and
IOC suspends India from hosting Olympic-qualifying events
In a major setback for India, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday suspended all Indian applications to host future Olympic-related events until New Delhi guarantees in writing the entry of all participants.
Crucial opposition meet on Feb 27 to decide strategy against BJP for LS polls
A crucial meeting of opposition parties over the Common Minimum Programme - a collective strategy to fight the BJP across the country in the upcoming 2019 polls - will be held on February 27 here, sources said Friday. The decision to formulate a common strategy was devised in the February 13 meeting of leaders of six major opposition parties, including the Congress, after which it was announced that there will be a pre-poll alliance and a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for the Lok Sabha polls. The meet was attended by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party Chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, NCP president Sharad Pawar, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah and others. The Left parties, which have decided not to go in for any pre-poll alliances, are not likely to be part of the meeting, sources said.
Act against terrorism: Modi tells global community
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said here that the time has come for the global community to "come together" and "go beyond words" to act against terrorism, as he expressed his gratitude for South Korea's support in the wake of the Pulwama attack.
PM Modi, S Korean Prez Moon hold 'constructive' talks on trade, defence and security
Primer Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held "constructive" talks on Friday on enhancing bilateral cooperation in key areas including trade, investment, defence and security. Modi, who is on a two-day visit to South Korea to strengthen India's strategic ties with the country, was accorded an official reception at the Blue House, the executive office and official residence of the South Korean President here. He also met First lady Kim Jung-sook. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the two leaders held "constructive talks on enhancing cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, energy, space, start-ups and people-to-people exchanges." Addressing the media after the talks with President Moon, Prime Minister Modi said that South Korea is an important partner in India's economic transformation. I express my gratitude to President Moon for his condolences and support on the last week's Pulwama attack and support against ...
UP govt education officer suspended for posting objectionable message on Pulwama attack
A government education officer in Uttar Pradesh has been suspended for allegedly posting an objectionable message on social media about the Pulwama terror attack, officials said Friday. Basic Shiksha Adhikari DK Yadav was suspended on the recommendation of district authorities here and the Uttar Pradesh government has taken steps in this connection, according to Additional District Magistrate Amit Kumar. Yadav was suspended for allegedly posting an objectionable message on social media about the Pulwama incident on Thursday, the officials said. Some people also staged a protest outside Yadav's office over his comment and demanded strict action against him. Forty CRPF personnel were killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14.
200 US troops to remain in Syria following pullout
The White House has announced that a small contingent of US troops will remain in Syria following President Donald Trump's order for a "full" withdrawal of American military from the war-torn country.
Seoul: PM Modi pays tributes at Korea cemetery
On the second day of his visit to South Korea, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to Korean soldiers at the National Cemetery here."Honouring the heroes. PM @narendramodi laid a wreath at the National Cemetery of the Republic of Korea that entombs remains of 165000 martyrs and paid homage to the fallen soldiers," tweeted MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.Immediately after, the prime minister reached the Blue House which is the Korean Presidential Office where he received a ceremonial welcome. He is also scheduled to have a meeting with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, who had visited India in July 2018.In the afternoon at a brief ceremony, the Indian Prime Minister will be conferred with the Seoul Peace Prize, which was announced by the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation in October last year in recognition of his dedicated service to international cooperation, global growth, and human development.Prime Minister Modi reached Seoul on Thursday morning on a two-day
Congress leader Rashid Alvi's meet with party workers disrupted
Congress workers created a ruckus and indulged in sloganeering, disrupting senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi's event here on Thursday.Alvi was in Rampur on Thursday to meet and interact with the party workers. However, the event was disrupted due to the unruly crowd of workers present at the event.The workers reportedly raised slogans in favor of different probable's seeking ticket for the upcoming elections.Alvi had to himself take to stage to manage the crowd and only after he warned that he would report the event to the top party leaders, the situation mellowed down."If you will tell me your views with honesty and sincerity, I will forward that to the high command. If you don't have anything to say, I will only tell that this all (sloganeering and ruckus) has happened in Rampur. I will listen to everyone and will give all time, just maintain silence," said Alvi from the dais in an attempt to manage the party workers.Alvi also informed the gathering that he wasn't in the city to ...
Venezuela's Guaido visits Colombian border to receive aid
Venezuela's self-proclaimed Acting President Juan Guaido arrived on the country's border with Colombia to organise the entry of humanitarian aid that incumbent Nicolas Maduro rejects as a plot to create a pretext for US military intervention.
White House receives proposed regulation to end work authorisation for spouses of H1B visa holders
The White House has formally received the proposed changes in the existing regulations to end the work authorisation for certain categories of H-1B foreign work visas. The move that would impact over 90,000 spouses of H-1B visa holders, an overwhelming number of whom are Indians, was sent by the Department of Homeland Security to the White House Office of management for Budget on Wednesday, officials said. It's now for the White House to take a final call on it, before a formal regulation in this regard could be issued and the Department of Homeland Security can inform a federal court, where a lawsuit on this issue is pending. Now White House would carry out its review of the proposed regulation, take inputs from various agencies, before taking a final call. The entire process could take from a few weeks to several months. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) which manages the programme said the proposed regulation was not final until the review and comment process was ...
Maduro shuts border with Brazil as Guaido goes in search of aid
President Nicolas Maduro has ordered the closure of Venezuela's border with Brazil in an increasingly fraught power struggle with Juan Guaido, the opposition leader spearheading efforts to bring humanitarian aid into the country despite a military blockade. Guaido set out in a convoy of vehicles to personally pick up US aid being stockpiled on the other side of the Colombian border, defying Maduro's military to stop him. Recognised as interim president by more than 50 countries, he left the capital Caracas for the Colombian border in a convoy of several vehicles for the 900-kilometer (560-mile) trip. Embattled Maduro has dismissed Guaido's humanitarian caravan as a "cheap show" and slammed aid as a precursor for a US military intervention in the oil-rich but crippled Latin American country. The 35-year-old leader of the Venezuelan legislature proclaimed himself acting president January 23 and wants to oust Maduro, set up a transitional government and hold new elections. A separate ...
2,600 foreign journalists to cover Trump-Kim summit in Vietnam
At least 2,600 foreign journalists have registered to cover the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un slated to be held here on February 27-28, a Vietnamese Minister has confirmed.
UNSC resolution on Pulwama contained language proposed by India: Sources
The UN Security Council resolution on Pulwama attack contained specific language proposed by India through its partner countries including the naming of JeM, and calling for bringing the perpetrators of the crime to justice, offcial sources said Friday. The UNSC comprising 15 permanent and non-permanent members including China, on Thursday condemned in the "strongest terms" the "heinous and cowardly" terror attack perpetrated by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), in a show of solidarity and support to India. India has mounted a diplomatic offensive to isolate Pakistan in the international community for its support to terror groups and cross border terrorism. In the resolution, the UNSC also reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and ..
Opposition to meet on Feb 27 over Common Minimum Programme
A meeting of leaders from Opposition parties will be held on February 27 over Common Minimum Programme.The meeting will be organised in Parliament House Annexe Extension building.On February 13, Leaders of six major opposition parties including the Congress held a meeting after which it was announced that there will be a pre-poll alliance and a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.The meet was attended by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party Chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, NCP president Sharad Pawar, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah and others.Mamata Banerjee said that a pre-poll alliance would be formed to counter BJP in Lok Sabha. "We will work together at the national level. We will have a common minimum agenda. We will have a pre-poll alliance," she said addressing a joint press conference here. Congress ...
China backs UN Security Council Resolution on Pulwama
China has also backed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on the "heinous and cowardly" Pulwama terror attack that was unanimously adopted by permanent and non-permanent members countries of the global body, according to sources.On February 14, in an attack by a terrorist of Pakistan-sponsored JeM terrorist organisation, 40 CRPF personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.While condemning the attack, the UNSC resolution on Thursday underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.The global body's security council further asked all countries to cooperate actively with the Indian government and all other relevant authorities in this regard.Further, members of the Security Council said that any acts of terrorism are "criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.""They reaffirmed the ...
Trump, Erdogan discuss on phone US troop withdrawal from Syria
United States President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, during a telephone call, on Thursday (local time) agreed to carry out the US troops withdrawal from Syria in line with their mutual interest, reports the state-run agency Anadolu news agency.The two leaders also reiterated their countries determination to fight all forms of terrorism.The phone call came just a few days ahead of the meeting between US Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford and the Turkish counterpartThey also agreed to further enhance economic relations, setting a goal of USD 75 billion for trade between the two countries.During the last telephonic conversation last month, the two leaders decided upon the creation of a safe zone in northeastern Syria which will allow refugees to return home. In December, Trump announced the complete withdrawal of the troops from Syria, declaring the Islamic States had been defeated there.The decision ...
Odisha CM has support of farmers: BJD spokesperson
BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra on Thursday said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had the support of farmers of Odisha as seen by the large turnout at the launch of the second phase of the state's flagship programme KALIA.This he said was in contrast to the call for a farmers' bandh in the state on Thursday, which received almost negligible support."The manner in which this BJP inspired and sponsored bandh was organised, not even 400 people were seen protesting on the streets in the whole state. But on the other side, the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led 'Kalia Yojana' event witnessed the presence of lakhs of farmers" Patra said.The BJD leader further said, "It is clear that this conspiracy by BJP on the farmers issue has failed," adding that the call for the bandh during a time when the students in the state were beginning to give their matriculation exams projected a bad example."BJP will feel the impact of this in the coming elections," Patra said.Earlier in the day, Chief Minister ...
'Have not joined Congress' says Lt Gen (retd) DS Hooda
Lt Gen (retd) D S Hooda, who was the commanding officer during the 2016 surgical strike, has denied reports of having joined the Indian National Congress."I have not joined the Congress party", Hooda told ANI when asked whether he had joined Congress party, which has asked him to prepare a report on national security.Hooda was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command during the terror attack on Uri Army camp and the subsequent surgical strike in September 2016.The Congress has on Thursday roped in Hooda to prepare a "vision document" for the country's security, more than two months after the former Army Commander said the surgical strike was "overhyped and politicised"."The Congress President (Rahul Gandhi) is setting up a Task Force on National Security to prepare a vision paper for the country,"' the Opposition party said in a statement here.It added that Hooda will lead the Task Force and prepare the paper in consultation with a select group of experts.Hooda,
Forced entry of aid to Venezuela could lead to war: Italian lawmakers
Rome, Feb 22 (IANS/AKI) The deadline set by US president Donald Trump and Venezuela's opposition leader and self-declared interim president Juan Guaido for the military to allow humanitarian aid into the crisis-hit country could spark perilous conflict, Senators from Italy's ruling 5-Star Movement said on Wednesday.