Page 1598 - Politics

Cong must play role of 'elder brother' in grand alliance for LS polls: Hemant Soren

Having sealed an alliance with the Congress for the Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand, JMM working president Hemant Soren on Sunday said a grand alliance is the "call of the day" to take on the BJP in the polls and the Congress must play the role of an elder brother in the "family". The former Jharkhand chief minister asserted that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress have put the acrimony of a past split behind them and aligned with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) for the Lok Sabha as well as the assembly polls in the state this year. "Collectively, it has been decided after the meeting with Rahul Gandhi ji that the Congress will contest more number of seats in the Lok Sabha polls and the JMM will contest the lion's share of seats in the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly elections," he told PTI in an interview. Soren said the leadership of alliance partners is in constant touch with him, giving final touches to the seat-sharing formula for ...

Pakistani cricketers' photos removed from Mohali stadium after Pulwama attack

The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) on Sunday removed the photographs of Pakistani cricketers from various points inside the Mohali stadium as a "humble step" to show solidarity with the families of martyrs of the Pulwama terror attack. The decision was taken at a meeting of the cricket body's office bearers here, PCA treasurer Ajay Tyagi told PTI. "As a humble step, the PCA has decided to show its solidarity with the families of martyrs of the Pulwama attack. There is so much anger in the nation against the heinous attack and PCA is no different in this," Tyagi said. He said there are nearly 15 photos of Pakistani cricketers, which were kept inside the stadium at various points including in the galleries, long room, reception and 'hall of fame' area. The Shahid Afridi-led Pakistani side had faced a 29-run defeat at India's hands in the 2011 World Cup cricket semi-finals which was played here in March. Tyagi said among the Pakistani cricketers whose photographs have been removed from

Pulwama attack not handiwork of single man, says Ex-RAW chief

The terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district which killed 40 CRPF jawans, was not the handiwork of a single man but a group, former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Vikram Sood Sunday said. He also attributed the incident to security lapses somewhere. "The entire episode of Pulwama was not a job done by one man.. There would have been a whole team behind him," he told reporters after addressing a seminar on 'External Intelligence for National Security' here. "This kind of an incident does not take place without a security lapse somewhere.. they had knowledge about the movement of the (CRPF) vehicles. There must have been group of people who did it," Sood said. Asked about India's possible response, Sood said, "It is not a boxing match.. punch for punch won't do." The timing and place would be chosen by the security forces, as the Prime Minister had said, he added. Forty CRPF personnel were killed Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in ...

CM Adityanath didn't accept offer to give up charge of UP backward class welfare dept: Rajbhar

UP Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Sunday said his offer to give up the charge of the Uttar Pradesh backward class welfare department has not been accepted by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The leader of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), which is an ally of the ruling BJP in UP, had on Thursday said he was giving up the charge of the backward class welfare department, expressing disappointment that his recommendations on appointment of state backward castes panel members have been "ignored". The minister had said he would, however, continue to be in charge of the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department. "I had offered my resignation from the backward class welfare department but the same has not been accepted by the chief minister," Rajbhar told PTI. He said, "I told the chief minister that when I do not have the right to keep people of my choice in the UP Backward welfare panel then what is the use of being a minister. The chief minister told me he would look

Don't attack innocent Kashmiris: CPI-M

The CPI-M on Sunday urged people not to attack innocent Kashmiris in the wake of the suicide bombing of a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Oli brings bill with punishment for posting anti-govt contents on social media

The Nepal government led by K P Sharma Oli has registered a bill in Parliament having provisions of harsh punishment for people for posting anti-government contents on social media, amid protest by opposition Nepali Congress. In the bill, related to the management and regulation of information technology, the government has prescribed a fine up to Rs 1.5 million and/or five years imprisonment for individuals who post or propagate online contents deemed "objectionable" by the authorities or a character assassination or an attack on national sovereignty. Nepali Congress leader and former Information and Communication Minister Minendra Rijal said that the government should not criminalise acts of publishing news or posting message in social media by imposing harsh punishment. "The bill registered by the government in the Parliament indicates that the communist government is moving towards authoritarian rule," he said at an interaction programme on "Shrinkage of democracy in Nepal" ...

Advisor to Jammu & Kashmir Governor visits injured CRPF soldiers in hospital

The advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor visited the 92-Base Army Hospital here on Sunday to enquire about the wellbeing of the CRPF personnel who were injured in the Pulwama terror attack. Khurshid Ganai visited the hospital on the directions of Governor S P Malik, an official spokesman said. He said Ganai was accompanied by Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Baseer Ahmad Khan and Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Abid Rasheed Shah. The advisor met the injured personnel undergoing treatment at the hospital. Ganai was informed by the doctors, led by Brigadier B C Nimbiar, Commandant 92-Base Hospital, that all the injured jawans were receiving the best treatment and were recovering well, the spokesman said. He said the advisor interacted with the jawans and conveyed the Governor's wishes to them and assured them of full support of the state government.

Pb CM meets slain CRPF jawan's parents, announces special monthly pension for them

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday met the parents of CRPF constable Kulwinder Singh killed in the Pulwama terror attack in their village and announced naming a local school and a road connecting the village to here after him. Extending his sympathies to Darshan Singh and his wife in Rauli village, the chief minister also announced a special monthly pension of Rs 10,000 to them (either or surviving parents) since they had no other children and the deceased was unmarried. The pension will be given in lieu of the job to the next of kin of the slain jawan, and will be in addition to the Rs 7 lakh ex gratia and Rs 5 lakh cash in lieu of land which the family is entitled to, an official release said. The pension will be paid by the Department of Defense Services Welfare and the agenda note for the same will be presented before the state cabinet in the next meeting, it said. Singh refused to respond to any political questions from reporters gathered here, given the sobriety of .

UAE announces $1.1 billion of military deals with international companies: IDEX

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Sunday it had signed military deals worth 3.87 billion UAE dirhams ($1.1 billion) with international companies.

BJP welcomes withdrawal of security to separatists

Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina Sunday welcomed the government decision to withdraw security cover of six separatist leaders and said he would "like them to be arrested and jailed" outside the state. The security cover of separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi, Fazal Haq Qureshi and Shabir Shah was withdrawn Sunday, a decision that comes in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror strike in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. "The hurriyat people are the real enemies of the Kashmiris and they are the ones who ruined the valley. Their security has been withdrawn is a welcome step and I would like them to be arrest and lodged in Tihar and Jodhpur jails (in Delhi and Rajasthan, respectively)," state BJP chief Raina said. Describing Hurriyat leaders as "sinners", Raina alleged that they were the ones responsible for the killings in Pulwama. "If Kashmir is facing terrorism today it is because of (Syed Ali Shah) Geelani, Mirwaiz (Umar .

Shah to visit Jaipur on Monday

BJP president Amit Shah will visit Jaipur on Monday to address a series of meetings ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. BJP state general secretary Bhajan Lal Sharma said Shah will reach Jaipur on Monday and inaugurate the party's district offices from Adarsh Nagar area at 11.15 am. He will address a 'Shakti Kendra Samellan', comprising workers of Jaipur city and rural and booth president of Sikar parliamentary constituency, Sharma said. The party chief will later address workers holding the responsibility of 'Mera Booth-Sabse Majboot' campaign. At 2 pm, Shah will chair a meeting at the BJP state headquarters with state party office bearers, conveners, district president and organisation district in charge, Sharma said.

Google shows Pakistan flag when searched for 'toilet paper'

Google has been showing Pakistani flag when searched for the "best toilet paper in the world", the "best China-made toilet paper" or just "toilet paper".

Audio tape puts Karnataka BJP, Yeddyurappa in the dock

A purported audio tape in Kannada has put the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leader B.S. Yeddyurappa in Karnataka in the dock. Its contents expose their desperation to topple the JD-S-Congress coalition government in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, due in April-May.

Centre working to uplift all sections of people in J'khand: PM

Inaugurating a slew of projects, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday the NDA government has taken several development initiatives in Jharkhand in the past four-and-a-half years for the uplift of all sections of society. The Hazaribag visit was another occasion to continue the development work, he said. "Three medical colleges have been inaugurated in Dumka, Palamu and Hazaribag. The state had just three such colleges so far. Now with the addition of three more, students won't have to travel far to study medicine. Also, people can avail medical facilities at ease," he said. Talking about the gift milk scheme, which he inaugurated here prior to his speech, Modi said the initiative will improve the nutritional standards of children in government schools. The prime minister also congratulated the farmers on receiving financial assistance to buy smart phones. "The farmers can now get regular updates on climate, learn about modern farming techniques and find out about government ...

Prince Salman's visit historic opportunity to strengthen ties: Saudi envoy

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to India presents a "historic opportunity" to expand collaboration in all sectors, the Gulf country's envoy here said on Sunday. Prince Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia's defence minister, will arrive in India on February 19 on his first official visit. Counter-terrorism and energy security are expected to top the agenda for discussions during the trip. Besides holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he will also meet President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu during his two-day visit. Cooperation in counter-terrorism is likely to figure high on the agenda of his talks in New Delhi as the visit comes following the Pulwama terror attack carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in which 40 CRPF men were killed. Saudi Arabia had strongly condemned and the attack. Prince Salman has embarked on a four-country Asian tour that besides India, also includes Pakistan, Malaysia, ...

Amit Shah calls Pulwama attack "cowardice", says martyrs' sacrifice will not go in vain

BJP president Amit Shah has termed the Pulwama attack "cowardice" and said that the sacrifice of the martyrs will not go in vain as there is a BJP government and not a Congress one at the Centre.

India will give befitting reply to perpetrators of Pulwama terror attack

Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said Sunday India will give a befitting reply to the perpetrators of the Pulwama terror attack. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already said that Army will decide how, when, where and who will punish the killers and their promoters. "The Centre has given free hand to the Army for necessary action. Perpetrators of the cowardly act will get a befitting reply that they will never even think of such acts," Shekhawat said. The Union minister had Saturday attended the funeral procession of CRPF jawan Bhagirath Singh, who was among the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the terror attack, at Jaitpur in the district. He said that the entire nation is emotional and proud of the slain soldiers. "Irrigation facility will be provided to the jawan's family. The entire nation and the central government is standing with the families of the martyrs," he said.

Kashmiri civil secretariat staff demand protection to send families home

Kashmiri state government employees working at the Civil Secretariat here on Sunday demanded protection for sending their families home.

Sacrifice of CRPF troopers will not go in vain: Rajnath

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the sacrifice of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers will not go in vain.

FWICE will ban those who insist on working with Pakistani artistes: Ashoke Pandit

The Federation Of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has decided to call for a complete ban on all artistes from Pakistan, said its chief advisor Ashoke Pandit in the wake of the terror attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.