Page 212 - Politics
'Pak violates ceasefire along IB in Kathua
The Pakistan Rangers Tuesday violated ceasefire again, targeting border out posts at International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, promoting the BSF to retaliate effectively, a BSF official said. However, no loss of life or any damage to property occurred in the small arms firing by them, he added. An army jawan was killed and three others were injured Monday in mortar shelling and firing by the Pakistan army along the Line of Control in Salotri forward area of Poonch district. "From around 1600 hours onwards Tuesday, the Pakistan Ranges opened unprovoked intermittent firing of small arms towards the Indian side in Hirangar sector," said the BSF PRO. The BSF troops returned the fire which was localised to a limited stretch in Hiranagar sector, they said. "No loss of life or damage of any kind occurred. The firing has stopped from both ends and no other area is affected as of now," the PRO said. The Army jawan killed Monday in the shelling by the Pakistan army along the .
Won't allow BJP, RSS to abrogate special status of JK: NC
The National Conference Tuesday said that it won't allow the BJP and the RSS to abrogate the special status of Jammu and Kashmir as any assault on the state's identity was akin to playing with fire. "Any such misadventure aimed at abridging the special status of the state will have far reaching consequences; the move will put the state to flames. Abrogating Article 370 will nullify Maharaja's accession with the union of India. It is the Article 370 that sanctifies the bond between New Delhi and Srinagar and any stride on the special status of the state will put a question mark on the connection of the state with the union of India, NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said in a statement. He said that the BJP and the RSS should "stop parroting the impish demand" of abrogating the special status of the state. "Such reckless rants will inadvertently brew anger in the state. The need of the hour is to bridge the gaps of mistrust between the Centre and the state, unfortunately nothing .
US Justice Department to turn over Mueller report evidence
The US House Judiciary Committee's Chairman has said that a deal was reached between his panel and the Justice Department to turn over the underlying evidence of the Robert Mueller report, avoiding a scheduled contempt vote for now.
Dikshit asks district and block chiefs to name three probables for Assembly polls
The Congress has started preparing for the Delhi Assembly elections due early 2020, with its Delhi unit chief Sheila Dikshit asking district and block presidents to submit names of three probables, including a woman, by June 22. Leaders of the Delhi Congress met Tuesday to deliberate upon the forthcoming Assembly polls. "Dikshit asked the district and block committee presidents to submit a list of three names each, including that of a woman, from their respective areas for selection of the Congress candidates for the Assembly elections," according to a statement issued by the party. Local Congress leaders see a good chance of the party's revival in Delhi after its improved performance in the Lok Sabha polls. Although Congress failed to win any seat, party candidates pushed the AAP on third place on five of the seven parliamentary constituencies. The district and block presidents will submit names of the probables from their respective areas by June 22 as Dikshit has expressed her wish
Amnesty warns war crimes continuing in Sudan's Darfur
Sudanese security forces have continued to commit "war crimes and other serious human rights violations" in the Darfur region, Amnesty International said on Monday, as the African country has been rocked by political turmoil following the military's ouster of autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April. Based on "disturbing new evidence, including satellite imagery," Amnesty said the abuses in Darfur at the hands of Sudanese paramilitary units, the Rapid Support Forces, include the destruction of entire villages, as well as "unlawful killings and sexual violence." The RSF grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias mobilised by al-Bashir during the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s. The militias were widely accused of crimes against humanity, and al-Bashir now jailed in Khartoum was indicted on charges of genocide. RSF commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, now serves as deputy head of the ruling military council. The coup leaders are locked in a growingly violent ...
War of words between west UP Cong leaders at review meeting
Some Congress leaders from western Uttar Pradesh were involved in a war of words during and after a Lok Sabha polls review meeting on Tuesday, sources said. During the meeting chaired by party general secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia, some leaders raised questions over ticket distribution and blamed senior Congress leaders for the poll debacle in the state, they said. A war of words erupted between some Congress leaders and arguments between them continued even after the meeting outside the party's war room at 15 Gurudwara Raqabganj Road here. The meeting chaired by Scindia, AICC in-charge west Uttar Pradesh, comes amid review by several state units of the party to assess the poll debacle the Congress faced, winning 52 seats across India and just one seat in Uttar Pradesh. The reports of infighting in various state units have also come to light following Rahul Gandhi's offer to quit as the chief in the May 25 meeting of the Congress Working Committee. The CWC had unanimously rejected ...
Cabinet may consider fresh bill to ban triple talaq on Wednesday
The Union Cabinet is likely to take a call on a fresh bill to ban the practice of instant triple talaq in its meeting on Wednesday, sources said. Once passed by Parliament, the proposed bill will replace an ordinance issued earlier this year. With the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha last month, the contentious bill had lapsed as it could not be passed by Parliament and was pending in Rajya Sabha. Bills that are introduced in Rajya Sabha and are pending there do not lapse with the dissolution of Lok Sabha. Bills passed by Lok Sabha and pending in the Rajya Sabha, however, lapse. If cleared by the Union Cabinet Wednesday, the new bill could be introduced in the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha beginning June 17. The opposition had been opposing provisions of the bill in Rajya Sabha where the government lacked numbers to ensure its passage. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, which made the practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) a penal offence, was .
Mamata regime threat to India's internal security: BJP leader
BJP general secretary in-charge of West Bengal Kailash Vijayvargiya Tuesday claimed there was a threat to the country's internal security from the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal. Seeking the TMC regime's dismissal, the BJP leader claimed "bombs and pistols" were the main weapons of political parties in the eastern state, adding that gangs based there were providing firearms to Naxals. "There is a threat to the country's internal security because of the TMC government in West Bengal. Its ouster is necessary," he said. "Infiltrators are continuously reaching West Bengal by crossing the international border. Gangs providing illegal arms to Naxals are working in this state. Bombs and pistols are the main weapons of political parties there," he said. Huge stockpiles of weapons would be found if security agencies search premises of TMC leaders in the state, he said. West Bengal governor Kesari Nath Tripathi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit ..
WB violence: Mukul Roy urges Amit Shah to take immediate action in West Bengal
BJP leader Mukul Roy on Tuesday wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting him to take immediate and appropriate action to safeguard the life of people of West Bengal as complete "anarchy and chaos" prevailed due to violence in the state.The letter comes in the wake of a letter that the TMC had written to the Home Minister on June 9 over violence in the state.In a letter to Shah, Roy wrote, "I would like to state in fear of losing the recently held elections, there has been a wind of change throughout the state of West Bengal and having sensed that the cadres, ministers at the instance of Chief Minister of the State are creating reign of terror and unleashed an unprecedented violence/terror on our party workers, I take full responsibility that there has been a complete breakdown of State machinery as if we are in a state of emergency and if steps are not taken urgently to contain the situation the same will go out of hands."Claiming that the TMC is making "baseless ...
AP government stops sand mining with immediate effect
The state government on Tuesday decided to stop sand mining with immediate effect.Mines and Geology Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy said: "New sand mining policy will be introduced within a span of 15 days."He warned the people who indulge in illegal sand mining, saying that the cases will be filed under the PD Act against those who are found guilty of illegal sand mining.The also minister said that "the state government will consider the review mining activities which took place during the previous regime if needed.
Arunachal budget to be presented on July 8
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday announced that the state budget for 2019-20 financial year will be presented on July 8. Since the present government has come to power with a huge mandate, the people's expectations from it are also very high, Khandu said at a meeting with senior officials. The budget will be presented on July 8, the chief minister said and directed all the heads of departments to finish the budget exercise in war footing. "When expectations (of the people) are high, the responsibility on us becomes bigger," he said. The BJP led by Khandu returned to power winning 41 seats in the 60-member House in the assembly polls held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha election on April 11 in the northeastern state bordering China. "The good work of the government in the last tenure has been well reciprocated by the people of the state, which resulted in giving us another chance to serve and work for them," Khandu said. Observing that a few ...
Congress leaders get into verbal spat with each other during review meeting called to discuss LS poll results
A verbal spat broke out among Congress leaders of West Uttar pradesh during a review meeting called by party general secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia to discuss Lok Sabha polls results here on Tuesday.Uttar Pradesh Congress president Raj Babbar was also present during the meeting. Scindia was appointed as party in-charge for Western Uttar Pradesh just ahead of Lok Sabha polls.During the meeting, Congress MLA K K Sharma got into an argument with Scindia. The spat occurred after the MLA complained to Scindia about the working of senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.The Congress General Secretary objected to the comments made by the Sharma following which an argument broke out between the two. Scindia later asked Sharma to get out of the meeting."We are here since 10 am but the meeting was held at 3 pm. The leadership that takes decision without meeting right members is also responsible for the election results. I told Jyotiraditya Scindia Ji in the meeting that I have many things to ..
Twitter erupts after Pak channel's 'shameful' World Cup spoof on Wg Cdr Abhinandan
A Pakistani TV channel's "shameful" cricket World Cup advertisement using IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as a prop is being widely slammed by the Twitterverse, who have outrightly dismissed the gimmick.This comes as the Indian and Pakistani teams are all set to face off in the Cricket World Cup 2019 in England's Old Trafford on June 16."Shameful for Pakistan to mock our hero #Abhinandan ahead of #INDvsPAK World Cup cricket game. We need to retaliate!" Twitter user and the chairman of RPG Enterprises, Harsh Goenka, wrote on Twitter.The advertisement is a spoof on the video released by Pakistani military during the Wing Commander's brief captivity in the country.Donning the Team India colours, the actor who plays Abhinandan appears to have a blackened face, pointing towards the racist undertones of the short clip released by a Pakistani channel called Jazz TV.He's also sporting the trademark Abhinandan gunslinger moustache, and holding a cup of tea. He's asked a volley of ...
1st session of 15th AP legislative assly to commence tomorrow
: The first session of 15th Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly will commence here at 11.05 AM on Wednesday. The newly elected members will take oath on June 12 and 13. On June 13, the members will elect the Speaker. The ruling YSR Congress has chosen senior legislator Tammineni Sitaram from Srikakulam district for the Speakers post and he is expected to be elected unanimously. The YSRC announced that the Deputy Speaker's post would be given to a legislator from the Brahmin community. Second time MLA Kona Raghupati from Guntur district is tipped to become the Deputy Speaker of Assembly. Governor E S L Narasimhan will address a joint session of the Legislative Assembly and the Council on June 14. The Business Advisory Committee of the Assembly will be constituted possibly on Wednesday, which will then decide on the duration of the session and the date for presentation of the state Budget for 2019-20. In February, the previous government had adopted only a vote-on-account ...
Poonch ceasefire violation: Gen Rawat, Rajnath pay tribute to slain Army jawan
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat laid a wreath to honour deceased Army jawan Lance Naik Mohammad Jawed at Palam Technical Area on Tuesday."General Bipin Rawat #COAS and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Mohammad Jawed and offer deepest condolences to the family. #BraveSonsOfIndia," Indian Army said in a tweet later.28-year-old Jawed from 4 Grenadiers, was critically injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector. He later succumbed to his injuries."At about 17:00 PM on June 10, Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in Poonch Sector on the line of control (LoC). In the incident, Lance Naik Mohammad Jawed was critically injured and later succumbed to his injuries," a press release by Defence Wing PRO said.Jawed belonged to Marrar village in Khagaria district of Bihar. He is survived by his wife.
Chandrababu Naidu chairs TDP legislative party meeting in Amaravati
Ahead of the first session of the new Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the legislative party at his residence here.Addressing party MLAs and senior TDP leaders at the meeting, Naidu said leadership abilities come out only when the party sits in Opposition."The MLAs should abide by their responsibility towards the party and the people and they should not lose nor let the cadre lose self-confidence. The true leadership abilities come out only when the party is in the opposition," Naidu said at the meeting.Speaking about the goal of TDP for the years to come, Naidu said, "All the 23 MLAs should work together for state's development and welfare of the poor. TDP's aim is not to get into power but to serve the poor and get the state developed. We have to take the same message to the public through the assembly."The TDP Chief further said it is the incumbent government's responsibility to pay Rs 10,000 crore to farmers .
Turkey slams US resolution on Ankara's purchase of S-400
Turkey on Tuesday slammed a resolution approved by the US House of Representatives that condemned Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 defence systems.
Stage collapses at BJP farmer rally; three MLAs among 10 hurt
Ten people, including three BJP MLAs, suffered minor injuries when the stage erected by the opposition party for a farmer rally collapsed Tuesday here in Madhya Pradesh, said eyewitnesses. The stage for the BJP's Kisan Aakrosh Rally, set up at Rajmohalla Square, suddenly caved in, they said. About 60 people, including local BJP leaders and the party's elected representatives, were on the dais when the incident occurred in the afternoon, apparently due to overcrowding. Ten people, including three BJP MLAs - Mahendra Hardia, Usha Thakur and Malini Gaud, who is also Indore's Mayor - were injured, the eyewitnesses said. Former BJP MLA Rajesh Sonkar also suffered minor injuries in the incident, which was caught on cameras installed at the venue. An ambulance was seen ferrying some of the injured. None of the BJP leaders suffered serious injuries, city BJP media in-charge Devkinandan Tiwari said. Tiwari said newly-elected Indore Lok Sabha MP Shankar Lalwani was among party ...
Toddler's death sparks protest, opposition questions rescue operation
Tempers ran high in Punjab's Sangrur district after the death of two-year-old Fatehvir Singh, who had fallen into a borewell shaft on June 6 and could not be saved in a rescue operation lasting over four days. The opposition parties too upped the ante against the government, raising questions on the rescue operation. People blocked roads in protest and raised slogans against the government, demanding action against officials for the "delay" in rescuing the child. The district authorities had to deploy additional police force in the district to prevent any untoward incident as the tempers ran high. Accusing the government of "negligence", the opposition said an "unprofessional" rescue operation led to the toddler's death. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal termed the death a "daylight murder". He tweeted, "Fatehveer: this is a daylight murder of the most inhuman & beastly kind." "There is no such thing as government in Punjab. When the state is seething with pain ...
IAF chief Dhanoa to attend graduation parade at Hy'bad academy
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa will attend the combined graduation parade marking the completion of pre-commissioning training of Indian Air Force flight cadets at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal here on June 15. Dhanoa, who will be the Chief Guest and Reviewing Officer of the Passing out Parade, will confer the Presidents Commission to 152 graduating trainees of various branches, a defence release said Tuesday. The ceremony also includes presentation of Wings and Brevets to the Flight Cadets on their successfully completing Flying and Navigation training respectively, it said. The award of Wings or Brevets represents a significant milestone in every Military Aviators career and is the culmination of a very demanding but rewarding period of training. The Chief Guest will also award Wings to Officers of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard on successful completion of their flying training at Air Force Academy, it said. The Parade will be followed by a