Page 1620 - Politics
Sidhu condemns Pulwama attack, but asks if entire nation can be blamed for handful of people
Strongly condemning the "cowardly" attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama by a Pakistan-based terror group in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed, Punjab Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Friday asked whether an entire nation can be blamed for a handful of people. Forty CRPF personnel were killed and five injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district. The cricketer-turned-politician, who was among the invitees for the swearing in ceremony of Imran Khan as Pakistan prime minister last year, however posed, "For a handful of people, can you blame the entire nation and can you blame an individual?" Talking to reporters here after the Punjab Assembly was adjourned for the day in solidarity with the CRPF soldiers killed in the terror attack, Sidhu said, "It (the attack) is a cowardly act and I condemn it firmly. ...
Maduro reveals secret meetings with US envoy
A month into Venezuela's high-stakes political crisis, President Nicolas Maduro revealed in an AP interview that his government held secret talks with the Trump administration and predicted he would survive an unprecedented global campaign to force his resignation. While harshly criticising President Donald Trump's confrontational stance toward his socialist government, Maduro said Thursday that he holds out hope of meeting the US president soon to resolve a crisis triggered by America's recognition of opponent Juan Guaido as Venezuela's rightful leader. Maduro said that during two hushed meetings in New York, his foreign minister invited the Washington-based special envoy for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, to come to visit "privately, publicly or secretly." "If he wants to meet, just tell me when, where and how and I'll be there," Maduro said without providing more details. He said both New York meetings lasted several hours. A senior administration official in Washington who was not ...
Snubbed by Congress on funding for border wall, Trump to declare Emergency
After another snub by Congress for funding his border wall, President Donald Trump will declare a State of Emergency on Friday in order to divert money to his pet project and back away from his threatened government shutdown, according to the White House.
Attack on CRPF will strengthen India-US counter-terrorism cooperation: Trump
President Donald Trump has called out Pakistan directly on the car-bomb attack on CRPF personnel by terrorists based there and declared that it will only strengthen efforts by India and the US to strengthen their cooperation in fighting terrorism.
Wall Street divided on Brexit: Goldman sees a deal, JPMorgan sees a delay
LONDON (Reuters) - As the United Kingdom's Brexit crisis deepens, two of the titans of Wall Street have starkly different views of the ultimate outcome: Goldman Sachs sees a 50 percent probability of a ratified deal while JPMorgan sees a delay.
Pulawama attack: Shah appeals parties to rise above politics
BJP President Amit Shah on Friday condemned the Pulwama terror attack that left 45 CRPF personnel dead and called upon to all political parties to rise above politics and come together on the issue of national security.
J&K attack worst mistake by terrorists, those responsible will pay: Modi
In a stern message to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the terrorists have committed their "worst mistake" by killing 45 CRPF troopers in Jammu and Kashmir and said their backers will pay "a very big price".
Government Increases Sugar MSP By Rs 2 To Rs 31 Per Kg
With the aim of benefiting Sugar farmers and in order to clear their arrears/cane dues, the Union Government has decided to increase the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of Sugar from Rs. 29 to Rs. 31 for the year 2019-20. This announcement was made by the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan yesterday.
Pulwama attack: UP govt announces Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia to families of 12 jawans
The Uttar Pradesh government Friday announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 25 lakhs each to the families of the 12 CRPF jawans of the state killed in the terror attack in Pulwama, an official said. The government has also announced job to one member of each soldier's family besides naming the link road in their native village after the martyrs, the spokesman said. Directives have also been issued to ensure that the last rites of the jawans are performed with full state honours in which one minister of the state government besides DM and SSP remain present as representatives of the government, the official said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed profound grief over the deaths and prayed for peace for the departed soul, he said. 12 jawans belonging to the state were killed in the attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, the official said. Those who laid down their lives are Avdhesh Kumar Yadav (Chandauli), Pankaj Kumar Tripathi (Maharajganj), Amit Kumar (Shamli), Pradip Kumar ...
Karnataka: Dissenting Cong MLAs meet Siddaramaiah
Dissenting Karnataka Congress MLAs B. Nagendra and Ramesh Jarakiholi met CLP leader Siddaramaiah at his residence here on Friday.Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan was also present during the meeting.Although the dissenting Congress MLAs have returned, they held party leaders responsible for their absence. On Monday, former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwar met Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumar requesting for disqualification of four dissenting MLAs from the state Assembly after they did not attend the ongoing state budget session and CLP meet ahead of the budget.The four Congress MLAs - Ramesh Jarhikoli, Umesh Jadhav, Mahesh Kumatalli and NB Nagendra - did not attend the budget session and the CLP meeting despite a party whip.
Goldman Sachs sees 50 percent probability of ratified Brexit deal
LONDON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs said it sees a 50 percent probability of Prime Minister Theresa May getting a Brexit divorce deal ratified, adding that lawmakers would ultimately block a no-deal exit if needed.
Goa Lokayukta recommends CBI probe into tablet-PCs purchase, slams sluggish government
Slamming the BJP-led coalition government for dragging its feet over probing a possible scam in the procurement of thousands of tablet-PCs for distribution to school students in 2013, the Goa Lokayukta has recommended a CBI probe to track down a cartel of businessmen who could have rigged the tender.
Arun Jaitley resumes charge of finance ministry
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Arun Jaitley has resumed charge of the finance and corporate affairs ministry on Friday, a government statement said, after a hiatus of nearly one month following his medical treatment in the United States.
Entire opposition stands with security forces, govt: Rahul Gandhi
A day after the Pulwama attack, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said his party and the entire opposition is fully supportive of the government and the security forces. No amount of hatred and anger can harm the love India is built on, Gandhi said at a press conference along with former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other Congress leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad and A K Antony. "This is a terrible attack, this type of violence is disgusting. Terrorism tries to divide the nation, we can't be divided by any power. The entire opposition is with security forces and the government," Gandhi said. "Those who have done this should not feel that they can harm the country. It is a time of mourning and sadness," he added. Singh said the nation can never compromise with terrorism. "Terrorism is a scourge which we can never compromise...," the former prime minister said. On Thursday, an explosives laden truck rammed into a CRPF convoy in Pulwama outside Srinagar, killing 37 ...
After attack, BJP axes all political programmes
The BJP on Friday said the party has cancelled its political programmes in solidarity with the 45 CRPF troopers killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan rejects any link to Kashmir terror attack
Pakistan has denied any involvement in the suicide attack that claimed the lives of 45 CRPF troopers in Jammu and Kashmir.
Puducherry CM's dharna outside Kiran Bedi's residence enters day 3
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Friday continued his 'dharna' along with his colleagues outside Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi's official residence for the third day demanding that she accord sanction for 39 government proposals including a free rice scheme.Bedi has been at loggerheads with the Puducherry government on various issues, with Narayanasamy accusing her of delaying clearance to welfare schemes and bypassing the elected government.On Wednesday, the chief minister had begun a protest outside the Raj Bhawan, Bedi's official residence, alleging that she was misusing her powers and also interfering in the day-to-day activities of the government.Protesting outside the Raj Bhawan wearing black clothes, Narayanasamy alleged that Bedi was forcing upon the law-abiding citizen's rules such as the compulsory wearing of helmets among others.
Pak should take action against JeM, Masood Azhar: VK Singh on Pulwama attack
Union Minister and former Indian Army Chief General (retired) VK Singh on Friday said Pakistan should take stringent action against the banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and its chief Masood Azhar after the dastardly terror attack in Pulwama.Condemning the attack on a CRPF convoy in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed, Singh told ANI, "Appropriate action will be taken, it is a very sad incident, it is deplorable, it is something which should lead us to take action so that this should not happen again. Pakistan must take action against JeM and Masood Azhar, the onus is on Pakistan now."Meanwhile, former Army Chief Bikram Singh said terrorists have now changed the tactics of attack."It shows the change in tactics of terrorists. An IED has been used after a long time, IEDs were used in the past, in 2001-2002 when I was there, this was a normal practice of terrorists, and then they resorted to firing from distance,' he said.The former Army Chief also opined that ...
Pulwama attack: PM Modi pays tribute to CRPF personnel
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to 40 CRPF personnel, who were killed in a terror attack in Pulwama on Thursday. The prime minister observed a two-minute silence before flagging-off semi-high speed train Vande Bharat Express on Friday. "I pay tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in Pulwama Attack. Our security forces have been given full freedom. We have full faith in their bravery," Prime Minister Modi said. "The forces behind this act of terrorism and those responsible for it will be definitely punished," the prime minister added. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi cancelled all scheduled political engagements in Madhya Pradesh's Itarsi and Dhar in the wake of the ghastly terror attack.Forty CRPF personnel were killed when their convoy was targeted on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Thursday.The convoy comprised 78 buses in which around 2500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar.Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed ...
India revokes MFN status to Pakistan after Pulwama attack
Following the Pulwama terror attack, India Friday withdrew the 'most-favoured nation' status to Pakistan, a move which would enable India to increase customs duty on goods coming from the neighbouring country. In a media briefing after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the most-favoured nation (MFN) status to Pakistan stands revoked. India granted the MFN status to Pakistan way back in in 1996, but the neighbouring country has not yet reciprocated. The MFN status was accorded under WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Both India and Pakistan are signatories to this; and are members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which means they have to treat each other and the other WTO member countries as favoured trading partners in terms of imposing customs duties on goods. Removal of this status means India can now enhance customs duties to any level on goods coming from Pakistan, a trade expert said. Total ...