Page 1599 - Politics
Rajinikanth not to contest Lok Sabha polls
Ending months of speculation, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth, who floated his outfit the Rajini Makkal Mandram as a precursor to launching a political party, Sunday made it clear he would neither contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls nor support any party. He appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu to vote for a party who they believed would be able to bring a permanent solution to the water crisis in the state. "I am not contesting in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections. Our target is only the Assembly polls. I am not supporting anyone and no one should use my picture or outfit's flag for political campaign purposes," he said. "Rajini Makkal Mandram has no support to any party in the upcoming Parliamentary elections. No one should use my photograph or the flags of the Rajini Makkal Mandram for campaigning," the actor said in a statement. The actor had a brief interaction with the district secretaries of Rajini Makkal Mandram on Sunday at his Poes Garden residence here, sources ...
I'm sure PM will take firm decision: Hema Malini on Pulwama attack
Veteran actress and BJP MP Hema Malini has condemned the terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. She says she is confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take a firm decision to curb anti-national activities in the Kashmir valley.
Prez Kovind condemns Pulwama attack, says nation has faced such challenges with courage, patience
President Ram Nath Kovind Sunday described as a cowardly act the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 paramilitary personnel were killed and said the nation has faced such challenges with courage and patience. "Three days ago, many of our brave jawans were martyred in a cowardly terror attack. Along with my countrymen, I strongly condemn this barbaric act," he said at the closing ceremony of the fourth Agri Leadership Summit organised by the Haryana government here. The President said the entire nation was grieving along with the bereaved families of the jawans killed in the attack. "On behalf of the entire country, I pay my tributes to the martyrs," he said. "We have faced such challenges with courage and patience," he said, adding that while facing these challenges, we have marched on with full vigour and will do so in the future as well. "On behalf of the entire country, I express gratitude towards our brave jawans and security forces," Kovind said. Forty CRPF personnel were killed ...
Israel, Palestine condemn Pulwama attack, express condolences
Israel and Palestine have both condemned the "abhorrent" and "heinous" Pulwama terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir and expressed their condolences. Forty CRPF soldiers were killed and five others critically injured when a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle laden with explosives into their bus on Thursday. The Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has claimed responsibility for the attack on the convoy of 78 vehicles that was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his messages to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Palestinians are "saddened by the tragic attack... and on this painful occasion, they express condemnation of this terrorist attack". "On this painful occasion, we condemn this abhorrent act and we offer condolences to you, your people, your government and the families of the victims. We express our alliance and solidarity with you and your people. May god have mercy on the victims and their .
Pak patronising terrorism, Pulwama attack an act of frustration: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday castigated Pakistan, accusing it of engineering the Pulwama attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. He claimed that the neighbouring country backed the attack after finding out that the terrorists have become frustrated in the wake of the successful operations by the Indian forces in the past five years. "Pakistan, which has been patronising terrorism, realised that frustration and desperation had grown among the militants due to successful operations against them by our security forces in five years," Singh said at a public meeting on the outskirts of this north Odisha town. Asserting that the security forces have been given a free hand to give a "befitting reply" to the attack, the Union home minister said the sacrifice made by the CRPF jawans would not go in vain. Asserting that all political parties have pledged full support to the government and the defence forces, Singh said the entire nation stands behind the
Pak briefs African and SCO envoys about situation after Pulwama attack
Pakistan Sunday briefed ambassadors from African and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries about the situation after the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 41 CRPF soldiers. India held a briefing for envoys of 25 countries, including from P5 nations -- US, China, Russia, the UK and France -- in New Delhi on Friday to highlight Pakistan's role in using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal Sunday said that briefing by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua to resident ambassadors regarding Pulwama attack continued at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Faisal said the Indian allegations were baseless and "aggressive rhetoric" by New Delhi was "counterproductive and threat to regional peace." While briefing the ambassadors from SCO states on Pulwama attack, "she recalled familiar pattern of India blaming Pakistan instantly after such incidents without investigation," he said. The SCO was founded at a ...
Whose purpose is being served by 'ostracising' Kashmiris, asks Omar
Kashmir is not just a piece of land, it is the people that inhabit it, National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah asserted Sunday, saying by attacking Kashmiris, they were being told there is no place for them outside the valley and no future in the mainland. "Young Kashmiri students studying outside J&K should have been feted as examples of people who have stayed away from the politics & conflict in Kashmir, choosing instead to make a future for themselves. By attacking them, terrorising them & forcing them to find shelter they are being told there is no place for them outside the valley & no future in the mainland (sic)," Omar wrote on Twitter. The former chief minister's remarks came following reports of attacks on Kashmiris in Jammu and harassment of Kashmiri students at a few places outside the state. Omar said the enemy has been trying to drive a wedge between the people in Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country and asked whose purpose was being ...
European efforts for trade with Iran fall short - Zarif
MUNICH (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister said on Sunday that a European mechanism to trade with Tehran fell short and that France, Britain and Germany needed to do more to show their commitment to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
Process of regularising unauthorised colonies stalled due to AAP govt's apathy, Puri to Kejriwal
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri has written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying the whole process of regularising unauthorised colonies in Delhi was stalled due to "apathy and inaction" of the AAP government, which vehemently rejected his claim. In a three-page letter to Kejriwal, Puri asked him to advice his colleagues not to spread "misinformation" on this issue and instead, focus on completing the survey of these colonies, required for their regularisation. Hitting back at Puri, a Delhi government spokesperson alleged that the BJP-led central government had been sitting on the file of regularisation of unauthorised colonies "since last two years". "The central government doesn't like unauthorised colonies in Delhi that's why a chargesheet was recently filed against Delhi Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain who was regularising these colonies," he claimed. There are over 1,650 unauthorised colonies in the national capital where migrant population plays a vital role in .
There is fire im my heart over Kashmir suicide bombing: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said there was "fire" in his heart over the suicide bombing of a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 49 troopers.
Sacrifices of CRPF jawans will not go in vain: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah said Sunday the sacrifices of the 40 CRPF jawans, killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, would not go in vain as the BJP government at the Centre, unlike the erstwhile Congress dispensation, would not compromise on any security issue. Addressing a rally here, Shah said the gruesome attack was carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists, who would not be spared at any cost. "This cowardly act was done by Pakistani terrorists. Their (jawans') sacrifices will not go in vain, because there is no Congress government at the Centre. It is BJP government and the Narendra Modi government will not compromise on any security issue," he added. Slamming the opposition Congress and its former ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Shah said both the parties did nothing to implement the Assam Accord despite ruling most of the period since signing of the pact in 1985. "We will not allow Assam to become another Kashmir. That is why we have brought NRC (National Register of ...
Puducherry CM's dharna against Lt Guv enters 5th day, he warns of 'jail bharo' from Wed
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Sunday warned his 'dharna' outside Raj Nivas, for Lt Governor Kiran Bedi's approval for his government's proposals on welfare schemes and administrative matters, would intensify into a "jail bharo" agitation from February 20. As his dharna entered the fifth day on Sunday, Narayanasamy said, "Our protest will continue till our demands, contained in the letter sent to the lt governor on February 7, are met." He has accused Bedi of not approving his government's 39 proposals for welfare schemes, including a free rice scheme, and on administrative matters. In a letter to Narayanasamy, Bedi has reacted sharply to the public protest and termed his dharna "unlawful". She has offered to discuss all issues with him at a public forum on February 21. The two have been at loggerheads on various administrative issues since Bedi was appointed LG in May 2016. On Sunday, the chief minister, his ministers and leaders of the ruling coalition hoisted black ...
Bernie Sanders recorded presidential campaign video: report
US Senator Bernie Sanders has recorded a video announcing a 2020 run for president, Politico reported Saturday, an indication that he plans to enter the already crowded field of candidates. But it still remains unclear when or if the video will be released, according to Politico, which previously reported that the senator from Vermont's team has been conducting interviews to fill top staff positions. Sanders, a 77-year-old independent who caucuses with Democrats, made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2016, losing out to Hillary Clinton, who was in turn defeated by Donald Trump. Like Trump, Sanders was an outsider when the 2016 presidential primaries began, but came close to pulling off an upset over Clinton. He garnered passionate support among young liberals with his calls for universal health care, a $15 minimum wage and free public university education. Sanders served in the House until 2006 when he was elected to the US Senate. He was re-elected in 2012 and 2018. While ...
Puducherry CM accepts Kiran Bedi's invitation for open discussion
Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who is protesting outside Lt Governor Kiran Bedi's residence here since February 13, on Sunday accepted her invitation to discuss the issues in an open forum.
Rajinikanth won't contest Lok Sabha polls (Third Lead)
Amid dragging speculation whether he will take the plunge or not, superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday announced that he will not contest the coming Lok Sabha polls nor will he support any political party.
Cut throat domestic defence rivalry exploited by global heavies: Deep State III (IANS Investigation)
On August 31 last year, Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted about "globalised corruption" in the Rafale deal. That was just a week after Mahmut Turker, a Turkish origin former German politician and now Airbus Industrie's Sales Director-Combat Aircraft Campaigns, met him in Hamburg, Germany.
Security cover of six separatist leaders withdrawn
The security cover of six separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was withdrawn Sunday, a decision that comes in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror strike in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, officials said here. Besides the Mirwaiz, the security cover of Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi, Fazal Haq Qureshi and Shabir Shah has been withdrawn, they said. While there was no categorisation of security for these leaders, the state government in consultation with the Centre had provided them ad hoc security, keeping in mind the threat to their lives from some militant groups. Militants of Hizbul Mujahideen had killed Umar's father, Mirwaiz Farooq, in 1990 and Abdul Gani Lone in 2002. No security was provided to pro-Pakistan separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and JKLF chief Yaseen Malik. According to the order, all security and vehicles provided to the separatists will stand withdrawn by Sunday evening. No security forces or cover will be provided, under any ...
Take back over 800 ISIS fighters captured in Syria, Trump tells European allies
President Donald Trump has demanded that the European nations take back more than 800 ISIS fighters captured in Syria and put them on trial, warning that the US otherwise will be forced to free the jihadists after it pulls out from the war-torn country. President Trump surprised the world by announcing in December that he was withdrawing 2000 American troops from the war-torn Syria. He also warned the Islamic State (ISIS) that America would hit them hard from nearby military bases if the terror outfit regains momentum. US-backed fighters are set to capture ISIS's last tiny stronghold in Syria, bringing an end to its self-declared caliphate. "The United States is 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. The Caliphate is ready to fall. The alternative is not a good one in that we will be forced to release them," Trump said on Saturday. President Trump warned that ISIS fighters could ...
Fake Operations (Column: Sye's Eye)
A national Intelligence organisation -- like that of India -- earns the respect of the countrymen because it helps the State in discharging its sovereign function of safeguarding national security, stays completely non-partisan and establishes a method of working that is secretive but never crooked. Since security, by definition, is protection against a scheming adversary resorting to a 'covert' attack, the counter-intelligence effort relies on tradecraft techniques perfected with professional training - like surveillance, infiltration into the enemy's camp, communication monitoring, raising human sources and carrying out an interview under 'cover'. The adversarial entity has to be identified and then targeted keeping in view the aim that security by definition is preventive - if there is therefore the danger of an enemy infiltrating its vanguard into the country clandestinely, these ideally have to be picked up right at the point of entry.
May issues fresh plea to Conservative MPs to unite over Brexit
British Prime Minister Theresa May has issued a fresh plea to Conservative MPs to unite and deliver on Brexit, urging the ruling party to "move beyond what divides us" and sacrifice "personal preferences".