Page 1617 - Politics
Himachal Assembly adjourned after condemning terror attack(Lead)
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly was adjourned on Friday after it unanimously condemned the worst-ever terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Protests break out in Bihar against Pulwama terrorist strike
Public outrage spilled out on the streets in several parts of Bihar on Friday against the Pulwama terrorist strike which has claimed the lives of 37 CRPF personnel, two of them belonging to the state. Sanjay Kumar Sinha and Ratan Kumar Thakur, both of them hailing from Bihar,are among the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in Thursdays terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Sinha hailed from Taregana Dih village on the outskirts of the capital city while Thakur was a resident of Bhagalpur. Holding aloft posters of top political and military figures of Pakistan, besides placards calling for hukka paani band (complete boycott) of the neighboring country, hundreds of students gathered at the Kargil chowk in the capital city, built in the memory of those who had laid their lives fighting cross-border infiltrators in Jammu and Kashmir two decades ago. There must be another surgical strike! For every jawan killed, 10 terrorists must be slain were some of the slogans that were ...
Vatican envoy to France under investigation for sexual assault: judicial source
The Vatican's envoy to France is being investigated for sexual assault after he was accused of molesting a official at the Paris mayor's office during a ceremony last month, a judicial source told AFP. The envoy, 74-year-old Luigi Ventura, has been based in Paris since 2009 and serves as a diplomat for Pope Francis. He was accused of molesting a man at the Paris townhall on January 17 where mayor Anne Hidalgo gave a New Year's address to diplomats, religious leaders and civil society figures. A complaint was filed by the mayor's office on January 24 which led to an investigation being opened the day after, the judicial source said. Le Monde newspaper first reported the investigation and the allegations against Ventura on Friday.
China's Xi: trade talks with U.S. to continue in Washington next week
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday trade talks with the United States will continue in Washington next week and that he hopes the two sides will be able to reach a mutually beneficial deal in the upcoming negotiations, state media reported.
MP Govt announces Rs 1 cr for martyr's family
The Madhya Pradesh government Friday announced financial help of Rs one crore to the family of the CRPF jawan from the state killed in the Pulwama terror attack. The martyr Ashwini Kumar Kachhi hailed from Khudawal village in Jabalpur district. The state government also announced a government job and a house to the jawan's kin. Chief Minister Kamal Nath said he salutes Ashwini Kumar Kachhi, the "brave son of Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district". "We are with the family members of the martyr in grief," he tweeted.
Pulwama attack: Pawar calls for unity, takes dig at Modi
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar Friday said the Pulwama terror attack was an attack on the nation andthere should be no attempts to politicise the issue. The former Union minister also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over some of the latter's statements after such attacks during the Congress-led UPA regime. Speaking to reporters on home turf Baramati in Pune district, Pawar called Thursday's attack on the CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir as an attack on the nation. "I can remember, Prime Minister Modi, before coming to power, used to say in his election rallies that (then PM) Manmohan Singh's government had failed to teach Pakistan a lesson (after such attacks). "He (Modi) used to say the Manmohan Singh government did not have ability to teach a lesson (to Pakistan). He also used to remark that only those with a 56-inch chest could administer a tough lesson to Pakistan," Pawar said. Modi, in his rallies, used to exhort people to replace the UPA
Time for peace talks with Pakistan over, teach them a lesson: Amarinder Singh
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday called for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan for the attack on CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama by terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad, saying "the time for peace talks is over and they should be taught a lesson. Moving a resolution for condemning the terror attack and adjournment of the House, he accused Pakistan of playing a double game, saying "their prime minister (Imran Khan) is talking peace and the general (Qamar Javed Bajwa) is talking war." The Punjab Assembly Friday strongly condemned the terror attack in Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed and passed a resolution for adjournment of the proceedings of the House for the day. Members of the House, cutting across party lines, paid tributes to the CRPF personnel killed in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, and observed two-minutes silence in their memory. "Enough is enough... The time for talking peace is over and I think it is time to ...
Election Commission asks Odisha to effect transfers of officers by Feb 20
The Election Commission of India (ECI) Friday asked the Odisha government to effect all transfers of officers by February 20 to ensure a free and fair polling during the upcoming Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections. The directive was issued when an ECI team led by Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa met Chief Secretary A P Padhi and Odisha DGP R P Sharma here earlier in the day. "The commission has directed the chief secretary to ensure that all transfers are effected by February 20 as per the ECI's policy regarding transfer of officers," Lavasa told reporters while winding up the ECI team's three-day visit to review poll arrangements in the state. On Thursday, some political parties had drawn attention of the team to state government's alleged reluctance in shifting certain officers. Even the state unit of the BJP had submitted a list of officers continuing in their posts for more than three years. According to the ECI's policy, the officers remaining in one posts for three years ..
Pulwama terror attack: Leaders across various political parities express condolences
Leaders across all political parties on Friday strongly condemned the deadly terror attack in Pulwama on Thursday which claimed the lives of around 40 CRPF personnel.Leaders of political parties offered condolences to the families of the personnel who lost their lives in the attack. Bahujan Samaj Party Chief, Mayawati said: "Our party strongly condemns this terrorist attack and offers deepest condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives. We appeal to the central government to find a lasting solution to this problem."The convoy comprised 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. A suspected suicide bomber of Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad targeted the convoy in Pulwama district on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar termed the terrorist as coward and said: "This coward attack on CRPF jawans is condemnable. The whole country is united and I believe that a befitting reply will be given. Our ...
Pulwama attack: Dean of Diplomatic Corps extends support to fight terrorism
The High Court Dean of Diplomatic Corps Hans Dannenberg Castellanos, on Friday condoled the death of CRPF personnel in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kasmir's Pulwama, and extended support to the Indian government in their "fight against terrorism".Around 40 CRPF personnel were killed after a suicide bomber rammed a car laden with explosives into a bus carrying them on Thursday. The bus was extensively damaged in the blast, which was followed by firing on the vehicle.The High Court Dean of Diplomatic Corps Hans Dannenberg Castellanos in a statement said, "On behalf of Diplomatic Corps in India, we would like to express our deep sympathy to Indian government and families of victims of this horrendous act."The statement further added that firm support will be given to the Indian government in its "fight against terrorism".Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which is based in Pakistan and backed by the Pakistani administration, claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was carried out by ...
US Congress unites against Pulwama terror attack
The US Congress has extended its united support for India in the wake of the ghastly Pulwama attack, which has claimed the lives of around 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir."Infuriated to hear about the #KashmirTerrorAttack in India today - one of the deadliest in the region since 1989. I unequivocally condemn this brutal terrorist attack and am keeping the victims and their families in my prayers," Democrat Senator Bob Menendez tweeted right after the attack on Thursday."The United States stands with our partner India as it recovers from a terrorist bombing in Kashmir. Jaish-e-Mohammed and its state sponsors must face consequences for this attack," Republican Senator Tim Cotton from Arkansas put forth.2020 Presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard also denounced the incident and tweeted, "We stand with the people of India in condemning the terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir, and send our condolences and prayers to the victims families. We must all stand up against these jihadists .
Sidhu talks of dialogue with Pakistan even after Pulwama attack
While a suicide attack which killed 45 CRPF troopers evoked widespread condemnation and calls for action against Pakistan, Punjab cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu sounded a discordant note on Friday saying the dialogue with Islamabad should continue.
Pulwama terror attack: Guj CM, BJP and Cong cancel programmes
In the wake of Pulwama terror attack, in which at least 40 CRPF jawans lost their lives, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Friday cancelled all his official engagements. Besides Rupani, Gujarat BJP and Congress also cancelled their party events and meetings scheduled be held in parts of the state on Friday. Protests condemning the terror attack are being held in different parts of Gujarat. In Rajkot, members of Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad, floated by Pravin Togadia, burnt an effigy of terrorists and demanded retaliation. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have planned similar protests in different parts of Gujarat in the evening. Paying tributes on Twitter to the Pulwama terror attack martyrs, Rupani announced cancellation of his programmes scheduled to be held in Surendranagar and Modasa towns Friday. Expressing grief over the loss of lives in Pulwama, Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani tweeted that two 'Cluster Sammelans' scheduled to be held in Dhoraji and ...
BJP, Congress now in rap battle
As the BJP and the Congress continue to slug it out on the political stage with a series of rallies and press conferences, they have now taken the fight to the pop-culture arena and released rap videos of their top leaders -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the indigenous Train 18, renamed Vande Bharat Express, from the New Delhi railway station to his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi in the backdrop of the terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir which killed 45 troopers.
Modified Route Dispersal Policy takes a toll on air services in Northeast
With the number of flights to and from the northeastern states witnessing a sharp decline over the past several months, passengers from the region are facing severe difficulties travelling to other parts of the country.
Telangana CM condemns terror attack on CRPF jawans
: Telangana Chief Minister and TRS leader K Chandrashekhar Rao Friday condemned the attack on CRPF jawans in Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, an official press release said here. Forty personnel were killed Thursday when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the bus they were travelling in. The attack was one of the worst terror strikes in the state in recent years, the release said. Rao said he was moved by the loss of lives and by those injured in the ghastly incident. The Chief Minister conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished speedy recovery of the injured. He said the entire nation was in a state of mourning in this hour of grief and appealed to his party cadre not celebrate his birthday falling on February 17, according to the press release.
Telangana CM to expand cabinet on Feb 19
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Friday decided to expand his cabinet on February 19.
UK says Brexit defeat in parliament 'a hiccup'
The British government on Friday dismissed as a "hiccup" its latest parliamentary defeat over Brexit, saying it would keep trying to renegotiate its EU divorce deal just six weeks before exit day. But senior minister Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, conceded that the setback might affect the ongoing talks with the European Union. "Yesterday was more of a hiccup than the disaster," she told BBC radio. She added: "The one problem with last night's vote is that it allows the EU to continue with this pretence that they don't know what we want. And they do know what we want." MPs on Thursday night rejected by 303 votes to 258 a motion expressing support for Prime Minister Theresa May as she seeks changes to the Irish "backstop" in her Brexit deal. It was intended to repeat the mandate given to May on January 29, when MPs voted to find "alternative arrangements" to keeping the border with Ireland free-flowing after Brexit. But it also took into account another vote on ...
HP Governor mourns death of CRPF personnel in Pulwama terror attack
Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Dev Vrat has expressed profound grief on Friday over the death of 40 CRPF personnel in a major terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, an official spokesperson said. He wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack. Pained over the tragedy, the governor has called off a dinner which was to be organised this evening at Raj Bhawan for the members of the state assembly. As per tradition, the governor organises dinner during every budget session in the honour of members of the state assembly.