Page 1606 - Politics
Curfew continues in Jammu for second day, Army presence stepped up
The curfew in Jammu city continued for the second day and the Army's presence was stepped up on Saturday, a day after violent protests rocked the city over a suicide attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans in Kashmir. Nine more Army columns were deployed in the city, bringing the total to 18 columns, and the force staged flag marches in sensitive localities. Officials said the University of Jammu postponed all examinations scheduled for the day and mobile Internet services remained suspended across Jammu region. Srinagar-bound vehicles stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway due to a landslide in Ramban were allowed to move forward amid tight security arrangements, they said. "The curfew is being implemented strictly and there is no report of any untoward incident from anywhere," Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua range, Vivek Gupta told PTI. Deputy Commissioner (Jammu) Ramesh Kumar said authorities were monitoring the situation and a decision to relax the ...
Disappointed that all-party resolution didn't include call for calm: Omar Abdullah
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah Saturday expressed disappointment over a resolution passed in an all-party meeting in Delhi for not including in it an appeal to maintain calm in the wake of violence in Jammu and tension in other states over the Pulwama terror attack. An all-party meeting, called by the government and attended by senior leaders of all major parties, passed a resolution condemning the terror attack and the support being given to it from across the border. Members of the opposition extended support to the government in tackling the challenge. "Disappointed the resolution did not include a call for calm. Reports of violence in Jammu & tension in university/college campuses in some states, I would have expected an appeal for calm to have gone with the condemnation & condolences," Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter. The winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir was rocked by massive anti-Pakistan protests during a general strike called by Jammu Chamber of ...
All-party meet on Pulwama: Opposition demands meeting with PM
Opposition parties on Saturday demanded a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for consultations on the Pulwama terror attack.
Nigerian postpones election at last minute
Nigeria's Electoral Commission has delayed the country's general elections till February 23, making the announcement just five hours before polls were set to open on Saturday.
Terror attack should not be an excuse to persecute or harass people from J-K: Mehbooba
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Saturday cautioned that mischievous elements must not be allowed to use the Pulwama terror attack as "an excuse to persecute or harass people" from the state, saying the pain of the killings of CRPF personnel must not fuel "such diabolical plans". "Understand the pain & (and) anguish. But we musnt (must not) allow such mischievous elements to use this as an excuse to persecute / harass people from J&K. Why should they suffer for somebody else's action? We need to be united instead of letting people exploit our fears," Mehbooba wrote on Twitter. The PDP president's remarks came following violent protests in Jammu and reports of Kashmiri students being targeted in colleges and universities at some places outside the state. "In ths (this) time of grief & outrage, attempts will be made to divide us. Religions & identities will be pitted against each other. Hindu vs (versus) Mus (Muslims). Jam (Jammu) vs Kash (Kashmir).
Karnataka's slain CRPF trooper's body flown to Bengaluru
Mortal remains of Karnataka's slain CRPF trooper H. Guru arrived here on Saturday from New Delhi in a special IAF aircraft for the last rites with state honours at his village in Mandya district.
Pakistan's complicity in business of terrorism must end: Hansal Mehta
Disturbed after the deadly Pulwama attack, filmmaker Hansal Mehta says Pakistan's complicity in the business of terrorism should come to an end.
Parties come together to support security forces in defending India's integrity
Political parties Saturday put up a united face as they underlined India's determination to fight terrorism following the Pulwama terror attack and expressed their solidarity with security forces in defending the country's unity and integrity. An all-party meeting, called by the government and attended by senior leaders of all major parties, passed a resolution condemning the terror attack and the support being given to it from across the border. Members of the opposition extended support to the government in tackling the challenge. In the meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad asked him to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a meeting of the presidents of all major national and regional parties, a view supported by Derek O'Brien of the Trinamool Congress and D Raja of the CPI. The resolution adopted at the nearly two-hour meeting said, "India has displayed both firmness and resilience in dealing with these challenges. The entire ...
Erdogan says won't go back on S-400 deal with Russia
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not "turn back" on a deal with Moscow to buy Russian S-400 missile defence systems in comments published on Saturday. Turkey's push to buy the systems has raised questions among NATO allies over their compatibility with alliance equipment as well as concerns over the burgeoning relationship between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We agreed a deal with Russia on the S-400, so for us to turn back from the deal is out of the question. This is a done deal," Erdogan said, quoted by CNN Turk broadcaster. The United States in December approved the sale of USD 3.5 billion in missiles to Turkey, which followed Washington anger over Turkey's intention to buy Russian systems. Turkey was "open" to buying US Patriot missiles, Erdogan told Turkish journalists on board his plane from the southern Russian city of Sochi after a three-way summit on Syria with his Russian and Iranian counterparts. "But this sale must serve the interests of .
Digest for international stories for week Feb 9 - Feb 15, 2019
Thai Princess Ubolratana's unprecedented attempt to become the country's next prime minister was abruptly nixed Saturday after her party agreed to comply with a command from the king opposing the plan. Beijing: China on Saturday "firmly opposed" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that it has never recognised the sensitive border state and the Indian leadership should refrain from any action that may "complicate the boundary question". Washington: US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet for a second much-anticipated summit in Hanoi, as preparations kick into high gear for the peace talks.
Thousands join final journey of slain CRPF soldier in Agra village
Thousands of people joined the final journey of CRPF soldier Kaushal Kumar Rawat, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, in an Agra village on Saturday. Family members, government officials, politicians and the general public joined the procession, which began at 9 am in Karhai village. Rawat's daughter Apoorva, who works for a private airline company in Delhi, and his other family members hoped his sacrifice would not go waste. They hoped Pakistan would get a fitting reply from India following the attack. Members of the family have offered land in the village for a memorial for Rawat. Uttar Pradesh Minister for Animal Husbandry S P Singh Baghel represented the state government at the procession. The government has announced Rs 25 lakh each and a job to one family member of the 12 CRPF personnel from the state killed in the attack carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist group on February 14. Forty CRPF jawans were killed in the .
Pulwama terror attack: CRPF jawan Mohan Lal's mortal remains consigned to flames
A large crowd bade a tearful farewell to Mohan Lal on Saturday as the mortal remains of the CRPF ASI killed in the Pulwama terror attack were consigned to flames with full state honours at Haridwar's Kharkhari cremation ground on the banks of the Ganga. The funeral pyre was lit by Lal's sons -- Shankar Raturi and Ram Prasad Raturi -- as hundreds of people watched. Those who attended the final rites included CRPF DIGs -- Dinesh Uniyal and G Vimal Bisht -- besides BJP MP from Haridwar Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Uttarakhand assembly Speaker Prem Chand Aggrawal, State Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik. Many also shouted anti-Pakistan slogans as the flames went up. Lal, 53, was among 40 CRPF men killed in Pulwama on Thursday when a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber blew up a bus which was part of a CRPF convoy. Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat paid tributes to Lal at his residence in Vidya Vihar locality near Kargi Chawk in Dehradun after his mortal remains ...
On 4th day of dharna Puducherry CM asks supporters to ensure law and order is not disrupted
Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, on a dharna outside the Raj Nivas here along with his ministerial colleagues for the last three days protesting Lt Governor Kiran Bedi's "negative stand" towards his government's proposals awaiting her approval, urged supporters on Saturday to ensure that law and order is not disrupted. He also said as part of widening the agitation, stirs would be held at constituency level from Saturday. Functionaries of different wings of the ruling Congress and the DMK have also joined the protest. "We have selected 12 centres spread across 23 Assembly segments in Puducherry where the leaders and MLAs along with workers of parties belonging to the secular front would hold agitations in a peaceful manner," Narayanasamy said. As part of the stir, black flags would be hoisted atop houses of leaders. Workers of the Congress party and its alliance partners in all Assembly segments on Sunday would protest "unanimously" against the "style of functioning" of Bedi, he ...
Andhra CM announces ex gratia for kin of those killed in Pulwama attack
AndhraPradesh Chief Minister N ChandrababuNaidu on Saturday announced ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of slain Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans.Around 40 CRPF personnel were killed on Thursday when their convoy was targeted by a suspected suicide bomber of Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pulwama district on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.Naidu, while addressing the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) politburo meeting, said, "The terrorist attack in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir is very painful. It is very sad that 40 CRPF jawans lost their lives in the most dastardly attack. The government of Andhra Pradesh will support all the acts of the central government if India in suppressing the terrorism."Expressing contempt over the incident, he said that the central and state governments must adopt and implement strong strategies to prevent such heinous terror acts. "Indian soldiers are shouldering the responsibility of safeguarding the nation, they are protecting our
Hailakandi admn asks gun licence holders to deposit arms
The Hailakandi district administration in south Assam has asked all licence gun holders to deposit their arms with their respective police stations in view of the coming Lok Sabha elections. By an order issued on Friday, district magistrate Keerthi Jalli asked superintendent of police, Mohneesh Mishra to initiate the process for surrendering of arms by the licensed holders in order to ensure free and fair elections in the district. The order has been issued by the district magistrate as per the Election Commission's directives on 'Restriction on Possession of Arms during Election'. Mishra has directed all the officers-in-charge (OCs) of police stations in the district to take necessary action to get the licensed arms deposited in their respective police stations, said a government release here. The administration will also keep an eye on persons with criminal antecedents, those convicted, or out on bail so that they cannot vitiate the atmosphere during the elections, ...
Government has zero tolerance over terrorism, security forces given free hand: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that the government has "zero tolerance" towards terrorism and the security forces have been given a free hand to deal with terror groups.
Opposition unity: Friends at Centre, 'frenemies' in states
Notwithstanding the bonhomie of the opposition parties and talk of a pre-poll grand alliance gaining ground, it appears unlikely the Congress will be able to forge tie-ups with the ruling parties in non-BJP states particularly West Bengal, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala in the Lok Sabha polls.
All options under study: Imran's advisor on India's MFN move
Pakistan will consider all available options to retaliate for the Indian governments decision to withdraw the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, Prime Minister Imran Khan's Advisor on Commerce Razak Dawood has said.
Pak synonym for terrorism, security forces given free hand to punish Pulwama attack perpetrators: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday slammed Pakistan over the Pulwama terror strike that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel, and urged people to have patience and faith in the security forces who have been given a free hand to punish the perpetrators of the attack. At a public function in Pandharkawada in Yavatmal district, where he launched a number of projects, Modi said Pakistan has become a synonym for terrorism. "A nation which came into existence after Partition and encourages terror activities, and which is on the verge of bankruptcy, has now become the second name for terror," Modi said. Asserting the country was in deep pain over what had happened in Pulwama, the prime minister said, "The sacrifice of the CRPF personnel martyred in Pulwama will not go in vain. Perpetrators of the crime will be punished." "Security forces have been given a free hand to punish the perpetrators of the crime. I appeal to the country to have patience and faith in the security forces. Our ...
Civilians prompt delay in assault on last IS enclave: Kurd-led forces
"Large numbers" of civilians remain inside the last Islamic State group enclave in Syria prompting a fresh delay in a final advance, Kurdish-led forces said on Saturday. "There are still civilians inside in large numbers," US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces spokesman Adnan Afrin told AFP on the day President Donald Trump said he expected to announce the end of the jihadists' "caliphate". "We weren't expecting this number, otherwise we wouldn't have resumed the campaign four days ago. This is why it's been delayed," Afrin said. A second SDF spokesman told AFP that the diehard jihadists remained in control of the tiny enclave around the village of Baghouz on the north bank of the Euphrates river. "The pocket inside Baghouz is still controlled by the IS group," spokesman Mustefa Bali told AFP. "There are still civilians inside Baghouz and we are working on getting them out." Neither spokesman would comment on the timeline set by Trump for a US announcement that the "caliphate" had been ..