Page 1587 - Politics
7 lawmakers quit UK's Labour Party over Brexit, racism
Seven UK lawmakers resigned from the opposition Labour Party on Monday in protest over its policy on Brexit, allegations of anti-semitism and its general shift to the Left under the current leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.
Farooq Abdullah takes up Kashmiri students' safety with CMs of Pb, Raj and U'khand
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah Monday took up the security-related issues of the students and others from Kashmir with chief ministers of Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttrakhand, urging them to ensure their safety and well-being. "Abdullah spoke on phone with Punjab Chief Minister Amrinder Singh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Uttrakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and urged them to take appropriate measures for instilling a sense of security among the students and other Kashmiri people," a spokesman of the NC said here. Expressing concern over "threats and intimidation" to the Kashmiri students in various parts of the country, Abdullah told the chief ministers that the students are in panic and fearing for their lives. "Security is needed to be beefed up in the areas they are staying besides anti-social elements need to be booked for their intimidating tactics," the NC leader said. The spokesman said the chief ministers of the three states shared the ...
Why plebiscite was not held in J&K earlier, asks Kamal Haasan
Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan has said a plebiscite could have been an option in Jammu and Kashmir earlier to foster peace and disagreed with calls for an immediate surgical strike to avenge the Pulwama killings. Sharing some of his random thoughts on the Kashmir issue at an event here largely attended by students Sunday, the actor-cum-politician deprecated 'jihadists' being glorified in Pakistan. He also indicated casualties can be avoided if the leadership of India and Pakistan "behaved properly". "Why plebiscite - to get to know everyone's view - was not held there. Why it was not done.? what is their fear?. The country was ripped apart into two (India and Pakistan). Why don't you ask them (people of J & K) again, they (political leadership) won't do it." On the recent killing of 40 CRPF jawans at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, he said:"If there is bleeding, the first job is to stop it...to talk immediately of surgery (indicating surgical strike was not .
Strong US presence at five-day Aero India show from Feb 20
A battery of US Naval assets, including the F/A-18 Super Hornet, will be on display at the Aero India Show being held here from February 20 to 24 as part of strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries. In addition, more than 100 United States Department of Defence personnel will support the US delegation at the show. US Ambassador to India Kenneth I Juster, who is head of the delegation to the Aero India show, said the United States and India were committed to strengthening defence cooperation, in line with Indias status as a major defence Partner. "I am pleased to be here to support our largest-ever U.S participation in Aero India. Defense acquisitions are an important component in deepening our bilateral ties and contributing to a balanced trade relationship," he said in a statement here. In addition, the US Department of Commerce and US Department of State officials would also participate in the show. US Naval assets on display will include the F/A-18 .
No assurance from Centre on mining resumption: Goa Minister
There is no assurance from the Central government about resumption of mining, banned in Goa by the Supreme Court in February last year, and a solution to the crisis has to be worked out only at the state level, Goa's Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai said on Monday.
MHA briefs EC about JK situation on holding simultaneous LS, assembly polls
A high-level team of the Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, on Monday briefed the Election Commission about the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed, officials said. The meeting was held to help the Election Commission (EC) in taking a decision on holding Lok Sabha elections as well as the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, which is currently under President's rule, they said. During the hour-long meeting, the MHA team apprised the EC about the ground realities in the state, strength of central forces currently deployed and the additional forces which could be made available for election duties, a government official said. The EC will have to take a decision on whether to hold Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir simultaneously or conduct the assembly polls later in the year based on the assessment provided by the MHA. The MHA team also apprised the EC about
Saudi agrees to free over 2,000 Pak prisoners: Pak minister
Visiting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has ordered the immediate release of over 2,000 Pakistani prisoners in the Kingdom's jails, Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Monday. Prime Minister Imran Khan at a ceremony held to welcome the Saudi crown prince at PM House on Sunday night had made a "special request" to him on the Pakistani prisoners. "There are some 3,000 [Pakistani] prisoners there and we just would like you to bear in mind that they are poor people who have left their families behind," Khan said. Salman, who was here on a visit, responded by assuring Khan to consider him Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia. "We cannot say no to Pakistan ... whatever we can do, we will deliver that," said the crown prince, who has been bestowed Pakistan's highest civil award Nishan-e-Pakistan for his "outstanding support for reinvigorating Pak-Saudi bilateral relationship". Information Minister Chaudhry in a tweet said: "As a sequel to Prime Minister of ...
Strong action must be taken against terrorists, those who aid them: India-Argentina joint statement
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Argentine President Mauricio Macri Monday asserted that strong measures must be taken against terrorists and terror groups, and all those who encourage, support, finance and provide them safe havens. No country should allow their territory to launch terrorist attacks on other countries, they said. Jorge Faurie, foreign affairs minister of Argentina said in an interaction with reporters, that one of the major issues for discussion between the two leaders was terrorism. He said Argentina had to deal with the menace in 1990s. Macri is the first international leader to visit India after the Pulwama attack that claimed lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel in Kashmir last week. Argentina has condemned the attack in "strongest terms". "I and President Macri agree with the view that terrorism is a serious danger to world's peace and stability. The cruel attack in Pulwama shows that the time for talks has passed," Modi said in a press statement in
Britain rejects Trump's jihadist repatriation call
The British government on Monday rebuffed US President Donald Trump's call to take back alleged UK jihadists captured in Syria and try them at home. Trump tweeted on Sunday that Washington was "asking Britain, France, Germany and other European allies to take back over 800 ISIS fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial". His comments came with diehard Islamic State group fighters trapped in the last pocket of their crumbling "caliphate" in Syria. Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said the fighters should be put on trial in places where they committed their crimes. "Foreign fighters should be brought to justice in accordance with due legal process in the most appropriate jurisdiction," Downing Street said. "Where possible, this should be in the region where the crimes had been committed." The spokesman added that London continued "to work closely with our international partners on this". US allies have been grappling for weeks with what to do with foreign fighters ..
Don't expect miracle from me; build booth level organisation: Priyanka to Cong workers
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told party workers from Uttar Pradesh's Bundelkhand region that they should not expect a "miracle" from her and the party's performance depends on its booth-level organisation. The AICC General Secretary Uttar Pradesh East warned the party workers that anyone found indulging in anti-party activities will be shown the door, a leader who attended the meeting said. During the meeting, held at the Congress' war room at 15 Gurudwara Rakabganj Road, Priyanka Gandhi reviewed the booth-level organisation of the party in the region -- under which 19 Assembly and four Lok Sabha seats fall. The four parliamentary segments in Bundelkhand are -- Jhansi-Lalitpur, Jaluan, Banda and Hamirpur. She asked the Congress workers to strengthen the booth-level organisation of the party. "I cannot do a miracle from above, the workers need to strengthen the party at the booth level and I need your support for strengthening the party in the state," the leader ...
Kejriwal lends support to Narayansamy's protest against Lt guv Kiran Bedi
Voicing the demand for statehood for the national capital and Puducherry, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday alleged that the BJP-led NDA government was trying to suppress democracy and claimed the situation in the two union territories was the same. "The kind of ruthlessness with which the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre is trying to suppress democracy all over the country is unprecedented," Kejriwal said. Expressing solidarity with his Puducherry counterpart V Narayanasamy, who is locked in a turf war with Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, Kejriwal alleged that the Lt Governors of New Delhi and Puducherry have been interfering in routine administration of the elected governments. Demanding statehood for both the national capital and Puducherry, the Aam Aadmi chief said people in these two union territories should not be discriminated against. Narayanasamy, his cabinet colleagues and MLAs from both the Congress and the DMK have been staging a dharna against Bedi in front of
Saudi Arabia vows to de-escalate India-Pakistan tensions
Saudi Arabia on Monday vowed to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan following last week's suicide bombing in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 49 CRPF personnel.
Two held for Youth Congress workers' murder, shutdown hits Kerala
A day after two Youth Congress workers were killed in Kerala, police on Monday arrested two persons even as a dawn-to-dusk statewide shutdown called by the Congress youth wing affected life in the state.
Two taken into custody, flash hartal marred by violence
: Two people were taken into custody Monday over the hacking to death of two youth congress workers in Kasaragod, as the flash hartal to protest the incident was marred by violence at many places. Two people have been taken into custody and they are being questioned, police said. Two motorcycles, suspected to have been used by the those responsible for the brutal attack have been seized, they said. Describing the incident as "extremely unfortunate", Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that strong action would be taken against the accused. The State DGP has been instructed to bring all the accused to book as early as possible, the Chief Minister's office said in a statement. The DGP Loknath Behara has sought help from neighbouring Karnataka to nab the accused, who are believed to have escaped to the neighbouring state soon after the crime. Terming the "brutal murder" as "shocking", Congress President Rahul Gandhi said the party would not rest till the murderers are ...
Akalis-BJP want privilege motion, sedition case against Sidhu
Upping the ante against Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, the Akali Dal and the BJP on Monday urged the Assembly Speaker to initiate a privilege motion against him for his comments in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack.
Iran arrests 3 'terrorists' over suicide bomb attack
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said Monday it has arrested three "terrorists" involved in last week's deadly suicide bomb attack on security forces in a region bordering Pakistan. "Safe houses in (the cities of) Saravan and Khash were identified and eliminated, and the terrorists based in them were arrested," the force said on its official Sepah news agency. "Three of the terrorists were arrested and 150 kilograms (330 pounds) of explosives and 600 kilograms of explosive materials as well as weapons and ammunition were confiscated," it said. The Guards said the three arrested had "produced, guided and supported" the vehicle used in Wednesday's suicide bombing. The attack killed 27 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards travelling on a bus in the volatile southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, which straddles the border with Pakistan. It was claimed by the jihadist outfit Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice). Iran has provided Pakistani officials with "information on the terrorist ..
JK Governor discusses issues related to law and order
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Monday discussed with his advisors issues relating to effective maintenance of law and order and directed that no anti-social element be allowed to disturb peace in the state. K Vijay Kumar and K K sharma, advisors to the Governor, met him at the Raj Bhavan in the evening and briefed the Governor about the prevailing law and order situation in the aftermath of the recent terror attack in Pulwama district, a Raj Bhavan spokesman said. He said the Governor discussed with advisors issues relating to effective maintenance of law and order and directed them that no anti-social element should be allowed to disturb peace and harmony in the state. He also directed that availability of essential commodities and medicines be ensured by the administration.
Goa govt has to find solution for mining resumption: Parrikar
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was Monday quoted as saying that the state government would have to find a way itself for early resumption of mining, which has been stalled since last one year following a supreme court order, in absence of any solution from the Centre. Parrikar, 63, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, chaired the state Cabinet meeting at his private residence near here. "The chief minister said the solution for the mining crisis should be worked out by the state government. He, however, did not elaborate on the nature of the solution," a senior minister said after attending the meeting. Since no solution is coming from the Centre, the state will have to provide it, the minister quoted Parrikar as saying. "The solution would be provided before upcoming Lok Sabha elections," the minister said. The mining industry in Goa came to a standstill after the apex court quashed renewal of 88 mining leases in February 2018. Thousands of Goans are ...
Amarinder says India wants Pulwama revenge 'now'; get 2 for every Indian soldier killed
Asserting that the entire country was "fed up" with the senseless killings of Indian soldiers in Kashmir, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday called for coercive action against Pakistan, which, he suggested, could be military, diplomatic or economic, or a combination of all the three. Calling for the death of two "of them" for every Indian soldier killed in Pulwama attack, Singh said it's clear that the Pakistan Army was calling the shots, with Prime Minister Imran Khan also a "plant" of the military. "We should get 82 of them since 41 of our men have been killed," the chief minister asserted, demanding an "eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth". He said it was for the Centre to decide what action should be taken, but it was clear that some measures have to be taken urgently. "India wants it now," he said. "No one is asking anyone to go to war, but these killings of soldiers are not a joke. Something has to be done. I'm fed up, the country is fed up," he said, according to ..
Poland pulls out of Israel meeting over anti-Polish comment
Poland's prime minister cancelled plans for his country to send a delegation to meeting in Jerusalem on Monday after the acting Israeli foreign minister said that Poles "collaborated with the Nazis" and "sucked anti-Semitism from their mothers' milk." The developments mark a new low in a bitter conflict over how to remember and characterize Polish actions toward Jews during the German occupation of Poland in World War II. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki had already announced Sunday that he was pulling out of the meeting in Israel on Monday and Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of four central European nations. That had followed a comment by Netanyahu last week about Polish cooperation with Nazis. Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz had been tapped to attend in his place. But Morawiecki said he was canceling the Polish participation altogether because he considered Katz's comments "racist" and "absolutely unacceptable." The Foreign Ministry also