Page 956 - Politics

Pak military takes intl media, foreign diplomats on tour of Balakot seminary, hit by India on Feb 26

Pakistan military on Wednesday took a group of international media personnel and foreign diplomats on a tour of the seminary and its surrounding areas in Balakot, where India carried out a counter-terror operation on JeM's biggest training camp 43 days ago. Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting the biggest JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an IAF pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. According to BBC Urdu, the group was flown from Islamabad in a helicopter to Jabba in Balakot. They visitors trekked for about one-and-a-half hour to reach the madrassa on the top of a mountain surrounded by lush green trees. The ..

NATO 'deeply concerned' by Libya violence

NATO is "deeply concerned" by the escalating violence in Libya, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday, calling on all sides to stop fighting as a deadly power struggle rages. As the battle between armed groups for control of Tripoli intensified, Stoltenberg urged the rivals to support UN efforts to broker a truce. "We are deeply concerned by the situation in Libya. We call on all parties to end the fighting, as called for by the United Nations," Stoltenberg said in a statement. "The current military operation and advance on Tripoli are increasing the suffering of the Libyan people and putting civilian lives at risk." Libya has been riven by divisions since the NATO-backed overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with various armed groups and two parallel governments vying for territory and oil wealth. Heavy arms fire was heard during much of the night on the southeastern outskirts of Tripoli as strongman Khalifa Haftar's forces pressed an assault aimed at taking the ...

Khashoggi family denies settlement with Saudi govt

The family of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi denied Wednesday being in talks to reach a settlement out of court with Saudi authorities following reports that his sons had taken payouts. "Currently, the trial is taking place and no settlement discussion had been or is discussed," read an English statement posted to Salah Khashoggi's verified Twitter account. The Washington Post on April 1 reported Khashoggi's children, including Salah, had received multimillion-dollar homes and were being paid thousands of dollars per month by authorities. Khashoggi -- a contributor to the Post and a critic of the Saudi government -- was killed and dismembered in October at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul by a team of 15 agents sent from Riyadh. His body has not been recovered. Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has been accused of orchestrating Khashoggi's killing, but a local investigation exonerated him. Riyadh initially said it had no knowledge of Khashoggi's fate, ...

Rajnath to file nomination from Lucknow on April 16

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to file his nomination papers from here on April 16. President of BJP's Lucknow mahanagar unit Mukesh Sharma Wednesday said, "Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is also the MP from Lucknow, will address party workers at UP BJP office on April 16, and then proceed to the collectorate along with ministers and MLAs to file nomination papers from Lucknow parliamentary constituency.

Doctors attached to Delhi BJP to visit slums, connect people with Ayushman Bharat

More than 40 doctors will be visiting the slums of the national capital to conduct health check-ups and connect people with the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme as part of a campaign of the Delhi BJP. The campaign will be launched on Friday. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a doctors' cell, which comprises over 500 medical practitioners. Doctors from the cell, some of whom are also office-bearers of the saffron party, will be part of the campaign. "They will conduct health check-ups and spread awareness about the scheme. Families with ID cards of other places will be linked to the health scheme and those with Delhi ID cards will be told how the chief minister (AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal) has not implemented the scheme in the national capital," an office-bearer of the Delhi BJP said. The campaign will initially be launched in 24 slum areas at places like Burari, Kirari, Chanakyapuri, Dallupura etc. "The aim of the campaign is also to tell people how Kejriwal has been ...

I will not join BJP, says Alpesh Thakor

MLA and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, who resigned from the Congress party on Wednesday, said that he will not join the BJP, though he said that he would complete his five years terms as a legislator."I will not join the BJP. I have resigned from all the posts in the party. We will complete the five years term as an MLA," said Alpesh Thakor while addressing a press conference here.Along with MLA Alpesh Thakor, MLA Dhavalsinh Thakor and MLA Bharatji Thakor have also resigned from the Congress.Their resignation came a day ahead of the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections."My Kshatriya Thakor Sena was facing insults in the Congress party. So, I am resigning," said Alpesh.Earlier in the day, Congress MLA Dhavalsinh Zala had said that Kshatriya Thakor Sena's core committee has given an ultimatum to him, Alpesh Thakor and Bharatji Thakor to leave the party.On March 7, Zala, a close friend of Alpesh, had told ANI that the BJP contacted him regarding joining the party.Alpesh, who came to ...

'Naamdar' is like a clever pickpocket: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that Congress president Rahul Gandhi is like a "clever pickpocket" who runs along with the mob chasing him and shouts "Chor, Chor, Chor" in order to confuse them about who the thief is.Prime Minister Modi, who was addressing an election rally, said that Rahul Gandhi who went to meet late former ailing chief minister Manohar Parrikar to know about his well-being told an utter lie afterwards."Naamdar went on for asking his wellbeing but told an utter lie after coming outside. Like a clever pickpocket who when picks someone's purse in a bus or in a mela, runs along with the public who chase the pickpocket. He himself shouts 'Chor-Chor-Chor' so as to confuse the public who the thief is. The mob of 40, 50 or even 100 people get confused," said Modi.Rahul met Parikar in January and later claimed that during his meeting, Parrikar "clearly denied" his involvement in the new Rafale fighter jet deal "orchestrated" by Prime Minister Modi to ...

Ranchi BJP MP resigns, will contest independently

Ramtahal Chaudhary, Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Ranchi Lok Sabha seat, resigned from the party on Wednesday. He said that he will contest the Lok Sabha poll independently.The resignation came after he was denied ticket to contest for the sixth time from the constituency. BJP has announced Jharkhand Khadi Gramodyog Board chairman Sanjay Seth as its candidate from Ranchi Lok Sabha constituency.In Jharkhand, 14 parliamentary constituencies will undergo polling in four phases.The Lok Sabha election will start on April 11 and will go on till May 19. The result will be announced on May 23.

AAP releases Manoj Tiwari's report card as MP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday released a report card of BJP MP from North East Delhi, Manoj Tiwari, and accused him of not fulfilling his promises.

Zimbabwe to exhume, rebury thousands from 1980s mass killing

Zimbabwe's government has promised to exhume and rebury the bodies of thousands of people killed during a 1980s military campaign aimed at crushing dissidents, state media reported Wednesday. The Herald newspaper cited the secretary in the justice ministry, Virginia Mabhiza, as calling the reburials part of measures supported by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to bring closure to the killings between 1983 and 1987. She did not say when they will start. Mnangagwa was state security minister and enforcer for then-leader Robert Mugabe at the time, publicly supporting the campaign. Like Mugabe he has refused to apologise for his alleged role but recently said people should be free to talk about the killings. In Operation Gukurahundi or "the early rains that blow away the chaff" in the local Shona language a North Korean-trained brigade rampaged through Matabeleland. A 1997 report by the Catholic Commission on Peace and Justice, drawing on more than 1,000 interviews, said 10,000 to 20,000 ..

Home Ministry refutes claims of inconvenience due to restricted flow of vehicles on Jammu-Srinagar highway

The Home Ministry on Wednesday refuted claims made by some individuals regarding inconvenience faced by the people due to restrictions being imposed on Srinagar-Jammu highway.The Home Ministry in a press note called these claims as "deliberate and mischievous disinformation" spread by some individuals.The release said, "The State Government has already clarified that out of seven days in a week, only reasonable restrictions have been imposed, that too for 12 hours, two days in a week."Stating that the restrictions have been placed to ensure safe movement of forces and at the same time minimising the inconvenience to public, the release further said, "During this period of 12 hours, alternative routes like old NH and other internal roads are available for commutation of civilians without any hassles...total duration of prohibition is for 24 hours out of 168 hours in a week, which amounts to only 15 per cent of the time."According to the release, the restrictions were placed in the ...

Modi trains guns at Rahul Gandhi, rakes up Bofors deal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday trained guns at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying he was "burdened" with "Bofors sins" of his late father and therefore wrongly accusing others of corruption. Launching a blistering attack on Congress, he accused the country's oldest political party of "playing games" in defence deals when in power. Addressing a poll rally here, Modi, without naming Gandhi, equated him to a cunning "pickpocket", who himself screams "chor, chor" and joins the crowd after getting caught in the act to confuse others. The prime minister recalled how the Congress in the past targeted former defence ministers George Fernandes and Manohar Parrikar. Referring to the Vajpayee government's decision to buy coffins to carry mortal remains of martyrs, Modi said Congress had unnecessarily targeted honest people like Vajpayee and Fernandes over the issue and not allowed Parliament to function for weeks. "Atalji's government had allowed to bring bodies of martyrs to their .

Pence asks UN to recognize Guaido as Venezuela's leader

US Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday asked the United Nations to recognize Juan Guaido as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, telling the Security Council: "Nicolas Maduro must go." Washington will present a draft resolution to the Security Council aimed at recognizing Guaido and appointing his representative as the ambassador to the world body, Pence told the council. "The time has come for the United Nations to recognize interim president Juan Guaido as the legitimate president of Venezuela and seek his representative in this body," Pence said. The United States is among some 50 countries that recognize Guaido, the opposition leader who declared himself interim president in January, and consider Maduro to have lost legitimacy. Maduro has maintained control with support from the military, Russia and China. Russia last month sent troops to Caracas, raising tensions between Washington and Moscow. A draft resolution recognising Guaido is certain to be vetoed by Russia. A bid by the

Determine rate of advertising criminal antecedents based on income of political parties: CPI to EC

The Communist party of India has urged the Election Commission to create slabs based on income tax returns of political parties to determine the rate of advertising of criminal history of candidates in the electoral fray which has been made mandatory by the poll body. In a letter to the EC, CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam and the party secretary has said while a notification issued by the poll body last year mandating criminal antecedents of individuals contesting elections be advertised in newspapers and TV channels was welcome, it was too expensive to do so for certain political parties. "I write to you now to bring to your attention ground realities which would show that there is a disparate impact of this obligation. As is well known, the costs of such advertising, mainly in television channels, is expensive. "Considering that the party has to advertise thrice in both newspapers and TV channels with wide circulation about the criminal antecedents or lack of it of many candidates ..

My father held 'Jinn in bottle' by aligning with BJP: Mehbooba

Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said on Wednesday that by aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), her father, Mufti Sayeed, had captured the "Jinn in the bottle".

Nation tired of 'fake acronyms' coined by Modi, Shah: Cong

Hitting back at Narendra Modi for his relentless attack on it, the Congress party on Wednesday said the country is tired of "fake acronyms" coined by the prime minister and expects gravitas from the person occupying the top post. The opposition party also said that BJP chief Amit Shah has "lost his political balance" and is trying to outdo his boss in framing "childish" acronyms and levelling "senseless" accusations. At his political rallies, Modi has continuously targeted Congress, once accusing it of indulging in a "Tughlaq Road election scam" and looting the money meant for the poor, referring to Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath's residence in New Delhi at 1, Tughlaq Road. He also claimed that the Nehru-Gandhi family targeted leaders from Gujarat such as Sardar Patel and Morarji Desai and was now targeting a "chaiwala". On Tuesday, Shah accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of doing "ILU ILU with terrorists", saying senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda has advocated talks with ...

Delhi Youth Congress protests over raids against senior party leaders

Delhi Youth Congress activists Wednesday staged a protest near Income Tax Bhawan here against the alleged politically motivated raids on party leaders under the Narendra Modi government. The protesters were marching from Delhi Congress office towards the Income Tax Bhawan when they were stopped by a police contingent. Delhi Youth Congress (DYC) president Vikas Chhikara said the BJP was using central agencies against the opposition but not against its "corrupt" leaders, he said. "Why are they not taking actions against the sons of BJP ministers whose salaries have gone up hundred times in the last five years. There are no CBI and Income Tax (IT) department raids conducted in there offices and residences," Chhikara said. A statement by the DYC said, "The raids by the investigating agencies are to influence the general election". The Income Tax Department Sunday launched pre-dawn raids at 52 locations, including in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, against close aides of MP Chief Minister Kamal .

Kirori Singh Bainsla, face of Gurjar quota agitation, joins BJP

Bainsla and his son Vijay Bainsla met BJP President Amit Shah and announced their decision to join the party at a press conference in the presence of Union minister Prakash Javadekar

PM scared of probe into Rafale deal, says Rahul

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not able to deliver his speeches properly as he was worried about going to jail, since the opposition party raised the "Rafale issue".

SC delivered 'historic' decision in Rafale : Rahul Gandhi in Katihar

Launching a sharp attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Supreme Court has accepted that the 'Chowkidar is a chor', hours after it rejected Centre's objections on the admissibility of "leaked documents" in the Rafale case."Today, the Supreme Court has delivered a historic decision. It says Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, who has become country's chowkidar, is a thief. For five years, he took money from farmers, labourers, unemployed and gave it Anil Ambani, Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya," Rahul said while addressing a rally here."Have you ever seen a chowkidar in front of a farmer's house? Or in front of an unemployed youth's house? But you will see many chowkidars in front of Anil Ambani's house. Narendra Modi is not your chowkidar, but of Anil Ambani," he said.The Congress leader alleged that the 'chowkidar' has handed over keys of the banks to thieves and he would return those keys to the ...