Page 1562 - Politics
BSF organises 6-day 'Bharat Darshan' for 20 Kashmiri students
Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday organised a six-day "Bharat Darshan" (nationwide tour) for Kashmiri students in Srinagar, starting today.The ceremony of the tour was held in the city where students were seen wearing sweatshirts which read, "Bharat Darshan tour, Kashmir." Students were also given white-coloured caps. Speaking to ANI, Danish, a Kashmiri student, said: "We are very grateful for this tour, by this, we will get to know our history; attacks like the one in Pulwama should not take place. We want to send a message of peace and brotherhood everywhere."He further said things can be resolved through dialogue.Another Kashmiri student said: "We want more such tours, and our brothers and sisters should also be allowed to visit them.""BSF regularly aims to take children from different districts of Kashmir for this tour. We take them to other states of India so that they understand how people live and how is their culture. This time, 20 children are going on a tour to Delhi,
A U-turn by Shatrughan Sinha would not guarantee him a party
The Bihar BJP on Wednesday thanked actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha for commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon launch of Patna Metro Rail project but made it clear that making a U-turn would not guarantee a party ticket for the disgruntled MP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Sinha, who has been severely critical of the leadership of Modi and party president Amit Shah for quite some time, had on Sunday come out with a tweet praising both the prime minister and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the backdrop of laying of foundation stone for Patna Metro at a function held in Barauni where projects worth more than Rs 30,000 crore were launched. We are grateful to Shatrughan Sinha for saying something which is true. His words of praise are in sync with worldwide commendation for the project, Bihar BJP president Nityanand Rai told reporters here. He was replying to queries from journalists as to whether the praise indicated a U-turn on part of the Patna ...
Pak-sponsored terrorists making attempts to disturb peace in J&K: DGP
Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh Wednesday said "Pakistan-sponsored terrorists" are trying to disrupt peace in the state and directed officers to put all resources to use to create a secure environment. Referring to the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, the DGP said, "We must learn from the incident and be resilient in our approach." Singh was addressing a 'darbar' (meeting) of trainees during a visit to Sher-i Kashmir Police Academy in Udhampur district. He also interacted with the officers, besides reviewing different facilities being provided to the trainees. "Pakistan-sponsored terrorists are making attempts to disrupt peace and order in the state, but like (in the) past, their attempts are bound to fail," the police chief said. He impressed upon the officers and other personnel to be prepared for the future contingencies. "We need to put all resources to use to create a secure ...
AAP 'failed' to fulfil poll promises, says BJP; launches 'Kejriwal Bhagao, Delhi Bachao' campaign
The BJP launched its 'Kejriwal Bhagao, Delhi Bachao' campaign from Sarojini Nagar Market on Wednesday here, with Union ministers Vijay Goel and Giriraj Singh accusing the ruling AAP of "failing" to fulfil its promises made to people of the national capital before coming to power. The ministers flagged off a specially designed 'rath' that will tour the city "exposing the failures" of the Delhi government under Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and highlighting the achievements of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. "The Kejriwal government has completed four years in Delhi but its promises are yet to be fulfilled. People are saying remove Kejriwal and save Delhi," Goel said. He said the rath will "expose the failures of the AAP government in Delhi. "A similar 'rath' will also tour the city to reveal with proof how it (AAP) has not bee able to meet the promises made before coming to power in Delhi." Goel, a former president of the BJP's Delhi unit, had earlier campaigned against ..
Not opposed to Masood Azhar's banning, anyone involved in terror must be listed by UN: Saudi FM
Any terrorist or anyone who supports and finances terrorism must be proscribed by the United Nations, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir said on Wednesday, rejecting suggestions that Riyadh was opposed to India's efforts to get JeM chief Masood Azhar banned by the global body. He also said the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia joint statement during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to Islamabad on Monday calling for avoiding "politicisation" of the UN listing regime was not at all directed at India's efforts to list Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Azhar as a "global terrorist". UN-proscribed JeM has claimed responsibility of the terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed on February 14 in Kashmir's Pulwama district. "Any person who is a terrorist should be designated. The idea was to ensure that there is no politicisation so that people do not pit somebody who is a political opponent and put his name as a terrorist," he told PTI in an interview. The Saudi
Pak violates ceasefire along LoC in Rajouri for 2nd consecutive day
The Pakistan army violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, prompting the Indian Army to retaliate, a defence spokesperson said here. "At about 1830 hours Wednesday, the Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by resorting to heavy shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along the LoC in Kalal and Nowshera sectors of Rajouri district," he said. The Pakistan army had resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri on Tuesday as well. The year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations -- 2,936 -- by Pakistani troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border. Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire understanding of 2003 despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the agreement during flag meetings between the border guarding forces of the two nations, the official said.
Grand alliance in Bihar to finalise seat sharing by Feb 25
With barely three months to go for the Lok Sabha elections, the "Mahagatbandhan" (grand alliance) in Bihar is all set to finalise the seat sharing formula in the state by February 25, party leaders said on Wednesday.
Pulwama attack: Haryana officials donate day's salary to kin of slain jawans
Officials of the Haryana Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department have donated their one day's salary to the kin of the 40 CRPF personnel who died in the Pulwama attack. A cheque amounting Rs 45 lakh was presented to Haryana's Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister, O P Dhankar here, an official release said. The MLAs of Haryana Assembly have also decided to donate a month's salary to the families of those who died in the February 14 attack carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad in Jammu and Kashmir.
India to emerge a key player in global defence arena: Sitharaman
India is set to emerge as a key player in the global defence arena, said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday.
Shah to launch BJP campaign to contact beneficiaries of welfare schemes on Thursday
BJP president Amit Shah will on Thursday launch from Andhra Pradesh his party's nation-wide exercise to contact over 22 crore beneficiaries of various welfare programmes of its governments at the Centre and in states as part of its campaign for the coming Lok Sabha election. Shah will kick off the campaign from Andhra Pradesh's Rajahmundry city, the party said in a statement Wednesday. The party aims to cover every beneficiary household under the programme as it seeks to retain power at the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. The BJP said its workers have reached out to the beneficiaries and claimed many of them shared pictures of the party flag flying at their houses as part of its another campaign "Mera parivaar Bhajapa parivar" (My family, BJP family). Shah will address party workers from four adjacent Lok Sabha constituencies and travel to Karnataka later in the day to attend other political programmes, the statement said.
Omar questions PM's 'silence' over violence against Kashmiris
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Wednesday questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi about incidents of violence against Kashmiris in some parts of the country in the aftermath of the recent attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama. Incidents of violence against Kashmiris have been reported from parts of the country after the Pulwama terror attack that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel. The February 14 attack was claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed and the suicide bomber, who drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a bus of the CRPF convoy, was a local youth. "Dear PM @narendramodi Sahib, can we please have a few words of condemnation for the systematic attacks directed against Kashmiri students & others or does your concern not extend as far north as Kashmir?" Abdullah asked in a series of tweets. The former chief minister was commenting on a video, which has gone viral on social media, showing a kashmir man being beaten up in Kolkata. "Having seen the video doing ...
Top China military commander gets life term for corruption
A military court on Wednesday sentenced Fang Fenghui, former Chief of Staff of China's Central Military Commission Joint Staff Department, to life imprisonment on charges of corruption.
NDA asks HAM's Manjhi to return
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar on Wednesday asked Jitan Ram Manjhi, a former ally and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) president, to rejoin it ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
LCA Tejas gets FOC for induction into IAF
India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas got the final operational clearance (FOC) from military aviation regulator Cemilac for induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a weaponised fighter jet in its operational fleet, an official said on Wednesday.
We understand your pain as our father met same fate: Rahul to slain CRPF jawan's family
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday attended a prayer meeting for a CRPF jawan killed in the Pulwama terror attack and he told the grieving family that they understood their pain as their father had also met the same fate. Congress general secretary in-charge of western Uttar Pradesh Jyotiraditya Scindia and Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar were also present at the prayer meeting held at slain CRPF soldier Amit Kumar Kori's residence in Shamli district. "Congress President @RahulGandhi and General Secretary In charge UP East Smt. @priyankagandhi attend the prayer meeting of martyr Amit Kumar Kori and share their grief with the family," the party said in a tweet. Rahul and Priyanka paid tributes to the slain soldier. They were also seen consoling the members of the bereaved family. "In these moments of grief, we are with you... His (Kori's) father told us that he is sad, but at the same time proud (of his ...
Don't engage civil defence volunteers as 'security guards': Delhi govt to HODs
The Delhi government has asked all heads of departments to not engage civil defence volunteers as "security guards", saying that their services are to be utilised for managing disasters and emergency situations, among others. The Finance Department has issued a written communication to all heads of departments (HODs) for the same. The department has set a deadline of June 30 for putting an end to the practice of using civil defence volunteers as "security guards" and to ensure finalisation of the procurement process of security services initiated by departments through the GeM portal. "It has come to the notice of the government that civil defence volunteers have been engaged as security guards by various departments as an interim measure pending the finalisation of procurement process of security services through GeM portal in terms of the Rule of GFR, 2017," the Finance Department stated. "Civil defence volunteers are governed under the Civil Defence Act and the controlling officer .
NDA govt pressured me to go ahead with "secret killings":
Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi claimed Wednesday he was under pressure from the previous NDA government at the Centre to continue with the "secret killings", a practice "rampant" during his predecessor Prafulla Kumar Mahanta's tenure. The BJP rubbished the allegation as "baseless" and accused the veteran Congress leader of doing "divisive politics", while Mahanta hit back, insisting it was under the Congress rule that extrajudicial killings started in the state. Gogoi, who helmed the state for 15 years from 2001 to 2016, claimed Lal Krishna Advani, who was then the union home minister, wanted to send former Punjab police chief K P S Gill, largely credited with crushing militancy in the northern state, to Assam as governor to quell insurgency. "We were pressured to continue the secret killings, but we did not do it. When I took over (in 2001), the BJP wanted the secret killings to continue and Advani wanted to send KPS Gill as the governor for this reason," ...
TN Minister slams Stalin for flaying AIADMK-PMK poll pact
Hitting back at DMK president M K Stalin for criticising the ruling AIADMK's alliance with PMK, Tamil Nadu Minister R B Udayakumar Wednesday questioned the principal opposition party's move to forge a tie-up with MDMK, saying its leader Vaiko was a bitter foe till a few years ago. He dismissed Stalin's charge that the electoral pact for Lok Sabha polls had been made "only for money" and asserted that the AIADMK and PMK came together for people's welfare and the general public in the state welcomed the 'winning' combination. Vaiko had floated the MDMK after he was expelled from the DMK on serious allegations, including hatching a conspiracy against the then party chief late M Karunanidhi, and nine DMK workers had committed self-immolation over the issue, the Minister told reporters here. Keeping company of such a person Stalin was trying to forge alliance with MDMK "ignoring" the interests of people and the country, he alleged. Under the pact reached Tuesday, the ...
BJP politicising Pulwama terror attack, alleges CPI(M)
The CPI(M) Wednesday accused the BJP-led NDA government of politicising the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed and cited the saffron party chief Amit Shah's remarks in this context. Addressing a press conference here, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the killing of CRPF jawans was a "very brazen anti-national terrorist attack" which has to be condemned. The entire opposition in a unified fashion had condemned the terror attack. It had also extended all support to the government to take all necessary measures to protect the interests of the country besides the security of the people and the armed forces battling against terrorism and hostile forces,he said. But, the BJP president (Amit Shah) has said "the sacrifice of our jawans will not go in vain and we will teach them, the anti-national forces a lesson, because this is not a Congress government, but a BJP government," Yechury said. "This sort of politicisation by the ruling ...
Centre not adopting step-motherly stance towards Pondy: AIADMK
The AIADMK Wednesday said the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was not adopting a step- motherly stance against Puducherry as had been frequently alleged by the Chief Minister V Narayanasamy. "The Congress Chief Minister has failed to submit specific plans and projects to the Centre for allocation of funds," leader of the AIADMK's legislature wing in Puducherry, A Anbalagan told reporters here. He said the Centre was not adopting a step-motherly attitude towards the union territory and added Narayanasamy without doing anything on his part had beencriticising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Terming as "high drama" the chief minister's recent six-day long dharna in front of the Raj Nivas here, Anbalagan said nothing had been achieved by it. He said the alliance forged by the AIADMK, BJP and PMK to fight the coming Parliamentary elections "is oriented towards welfare of the people" and added that it would win all the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.