11:42 Flag it off : A 100-feet high national flag installed at the Raipur railway station. All for nationalism and respecting the tricolour, but let’s hope the station has essentials like escalators, elevators and ramps to enable senior citizens to change platforms with ease.
11:38 Jaish commander in Pulwama attack trapped in encounter:
Update on the Pulwama encounter: A top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander linked to the Pulwama terror attack is believed to be trapped in the ongoing encounter in which four Indian Army personnel, including a Major, were killed and another sustained injuries. Two terrorists have been killed during the encounter.
The encounter broke out early this morning in the Pinglan area of Pulwama district.
The deceased personnel have been identified as Major V S Dhoundiyal from Dehradun, Havaldar Sheo Ram from Jhunjhunu, Sepoy Ajay Kumar from Meerut and Sepoy Hari Singh from Rewari. They belonged to 55 Rashtriya Rifles.
As many as 40 CRPF personnel were killed after their convoy came under attack in Pulwama’s Awantipora area on February 14.Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM had claimed responsibility for the attack. — PTI
Image: The encounter broke out early this morning in the Pinglan area of Pulwama district.
11:33 BJP MP Kirti Azad joins Congress : BJP MP Kirti Azad joins the Congress party in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. Azad, who was suspended by the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2015, on Monday joined Congress. The MP from Bihar’s Darbhanga joined the grand old party in the presence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. A cricketer-turned-politician, Azad is the son of former Bihar chief minister Bhagwat Jha Azad.
11:07 Bludgeoned, Idea of India needs rescuing: In the end, it ceased to quite matter which side lost and which won the evening. Resonating insistently above the feisty jousting between combatants was the suzerainty of the Idea of India as a pluralist, inclusive, secular democracy. But alongside prevailed a rider to it too — the sense that the Idea had been bullied and bludgeoned during the Narendra Modi years and needed urgent rescuing. Read more
10:46 ‘Pakistan has to be given the message that we will keep hitting you’: Few people understand the unrest in the Kashmir valley and its intersection with Pakistan-sponsored terrorism as Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) does.
As commander of the XV Corps based in Srinagar, General Hasnain conceived the ‘Hearts Doctrine’ in Kashmir. The general has been hailed for ‘the balance he brought between the employment of hard power in counter infiltration and counter terrorist operations and military soft power.’
10:42 Tricolour hoisted less, used more to wrap coffins: Sena blasts Centre: “Instead of being hoisted in pride, the tricolour is now being used more for wrapping the mortal remains of slain security personnel,” the Shiv Sena said on Monday. The remark comes nearly five days after 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack.
“It is unfortunate that despite there being no war, soldiers of our country are dealing with the killings,” the party said in its editorial mouthpiece, Saamna.
The Shiv Sena opined that the need of the hour is to stand by the security forces and the families of the deceased, and not to place blame on one another.
“A similar incident happened in Kashmir while Congress was in power. At that time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the chief minister of Gujarat, had stated that ‘it is not our soldiers that are weak but the government at the Centre.’ Everyone is now waiting to see what the Centre will do in order to take the revenge of the killings of our soldiers. This is not the time to point out mistakes. This is the time to stand with the army and motivate them.”
The party also advised the Centre to follow the footsteps of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in order to take “revenge”, in reference to Gandhi’s decision to wage war in 1971 and “go into East Pakistan.” — ANI
10:38 After Pulwama, a manufactured outpouring of grief: Within hours of the latest — and bloodiest — terror attack in Kashmir that left 40 jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force dead, the information and broadcasting ministry issued an advisory to “all private satellite TV channels” about the coverage of the tragedy and its aftermath.
It asked television channels to be “particularly cautious’ with any content which “is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes; and/or… contains anything affecting the integrity of the nation’.
On the face of it, the advisory seemed utterly pointless. Given the ultranationalist tenor of most television news even in normal times, the chances of any channel promoting “anti-national attitudes’ after such a horrific attack on security forces were less than nil.
On the contrary, the advisory provided the perfect backdrop for many a channel to indulge in unabashed warmongering. Television studios were transformed into “war rooms” and there were shrill demands for retribution and revenge against Pakistan.
Heart-rending stories about the families left behind by the hapless soldiers killed while defending the unity and integrity of the country only added to the sense of national outrage.
The advisory, it soon transpired, had had its desired effect. Such has been the impact of the hyper-emotional coverage of the Pulwama tragedy that every political party has come out in full support of the government in this “hour of national crisis’.
10:18 Moved by Pulwama attack, BJP ally LJP shoots off letter to PM: Moved by the Pulwama terror attack, the Lok Janshakti Party, an ally of the ruling BJP at the Centre, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strike at the roots of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
In a letter written to Modi, LJP parliamentary board chairman Chirag Paswan pleaded that the drive against terrorism “must not be halted this time, until a single terrorist was alive”.
“Under your able leadership, the country has made all-round progress in the last five years. This has unsettled Pakistan. The neighbouring country has sponsored many cowardly acts so far, but the latest incident has left the nation, especially the youth, enraged,” Paswan said in the letter, copies of which were shared with the media in Patna late Sunday night.
“I saw pictures of many of the martyred CRPF jawans in papers and experienced the pain of the bereaved family members. Our party’s national executive meeting proposed in Ranchi was, in view of the tragedy, converted into a condolence meeting and the party programme cancelled thereafter, the LJP leader wrote in the letter. The dastardly attack had caused much anguish among the LJP workers who were angry with the terrorist organisations and their bosses, he said.
“I hereby convey to you a sentiment shared by party workers and the entire nation that expeditious action be taken to root out Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and this time, such an operation must not be halted until a single terrorist is alive,” Paswan, whose father — Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan — is the founding president of the LJP, added. — PTI
10:12 The cross-LoC bus service from Poonch in Jammu & Kashmir to Rawalakot (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) has been suspended for today.
10:00 Tearful Dehradun bids farewell to Major Bisht :
Thousands of people on the streets of Dehradun for the funeral procession of Major Chitresh Singh Bisht. Slogans of ‘Amar Rahe’ raised as people pay last respects to the 31-year-old Major, with almost the entire town on the streets to pay their last respects. He lost his life on 16 February while defusing an IED which was planted by terrorists across the LoC in Rajouri’s Naushera sector in J&K. Major Bisht was to be married next month. Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat also present.
Major Chitresh Singh Bisht’s father was reportedly preparing for the marriage of his son scheduled for March 7 when he found out about his son’s death.
Major Bisht (31) belonged to Dehradun in Uttarakhand. His father is a retired police officer. Major Bisht was leading a bomb disposal squad team for sanitisation when mines were detected on the track in Naushera sector around 3 pm, a defence spokesman said.
Image: The mortal remains of Major Bisht draped in a tricolour is held aloft by thousands of mourners in Dehradun.
09:46 Pak arts community disappointed over Shabana, Javed cancelling Karachi visit: The literary and arts community of Pakistan has expressed disappointment over veteran Indian actress Shabana Azmi and her lyricist-writer husband Javed Akhtar cancelling, in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, their Karachi visit to attend Kaifi Azmi’s birth centenary celebrations.
“Shabana and Javed sahab have always been seen as progressive people who have spoken out in favour of bettering Indo-Pak relations. So their reaction to the Pulwama incident has come as a surprise to the arts and literary community in Karachi,” Omair Alavi, a well-known film critic, said.
On Saturday, the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, regretted the two artistes’ decision. Arts Council president Ahmed Shah also expressed regrets over Akhtar’s comments. “His comments do not seem appropriate for a literary person.” In one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s three decades of militancy, a Jaish suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus in Pulwama district, killing at least 40 personnel and leaving many critically wounded.
Azmi on Friday said she and her husband Javed Akhtar have decided not to attend Kaifi Azmi’s birth centenary celebrations in Karachi. The couple was invited to Pakistan by the Karachi Arts Council for a two-day event. After the attack, Azmi said she feels weakened in her belief that people-to-people contact can force the establishment to do the right thing.
The Arts Council president said he felt sorry that Azmi has lost hope. “I don’t criticise her but we deeply feel saddened the way she had expressed disappointment after the Pulwama attack,” he said. “We firmly believe that artistes and people who are regarded for their literary and artistic contribution are the ones who give hope to people. They never disappoint them. But this time, Shabana Azmi sounds extremely disappointed.” — PTI
09:29 4 soldiers killed in encounter in J-K’s Pulwama:
Four soldiers including a Major were killed in an encounter between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
A cordon and search operation was launched late last night by army, police and Central Reserve Police Forces personnel after a tip off that terrorists were hiding in the area.
The encounter in Pulwama comes four days after the terror attack, which killed 41 CRPF personnel.
Those killed were Major DS Dondial, Head Constable Save Ram, Sepoy Ajay Kumar and Seooy Hari Singh.
09:27 Assam CM likens Pulwama incident to ‘attacks of Mughals’:
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday likened the Pulwama terror incident, in which 40 Central Reserve Police Forces personnel were killed, to the “attacks of Mughals”.
The chief minister was addressing a public rally of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha Lakhimpur in presence of Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah.
“The recent Kashmir incident is an Islamist terrorist attack on India. Our brave jawans were martyred and I pay my sincere homage to them.
“… We have to continue the fight against the Mughals even today. The attack of the Mughals is not over yet and the Kashmir incident is a proof of that,” Sonowal said.
Forty CRPF jawans were killed and five injured when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a bus carrying the soldiers on Thursday, nearly 20 kilometres outside Srinagar.
The bus was part of a convoy of 78 vehicles in which the CRPF soldiers were heading to the Kashmir Valley. — PTI
08:30 Chris Gayle to bid adieu to ODIs after World Cup:
Veteran West Indies batsman Chris Gayle has announced that he will retire from one-day international cricket after the World Cup slated to be held in England and Wales later this year.
“Yes, I’m looking to draw the line after the World Cup,” he said.
“Or should I say cut the string? Definitely, in 50-over cricket, the World Cup is the end for me. I’ll let the youngsters have some fun and I can sit back in the party stand and watch them have some fun,” Gayle was quoted by ESPNCricinfo as saying while speaking to reporters.
Asked whether he was satisfied with his career, the 39-year-old explosive batsman remarked, “You’re looking at a great man. I’m the greatest player in the world. Of course, I’m still the Universe Boss. That will never change. I’ll take that to the grave.”
Gayle said that if West Indies lifted the trophy in this year’s World Cup, it would be a “fairy-tale finish” for him.
“Winning the World Cup would be a fairy-tale finish. The youngsters owe it to me to win. They have to do that for me and try and get me the trophy. I’ll be looking to put my input in as well,” he added.
The World Cup is slated to be held from May 30 to July 14.
Gayle, who made his debut back in 1999, has scored 9,727 ODI runs in 284 matches and is second only to former West Indies captain Brian Lara who amassed 10,405 runs.
In his illustrious career, Gayle has hit 23 ODI centuries.
His 215 against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup is the highest score and is one of only six players who have scored a double hundred in the 50-over format. — ANI
08:13 Amid Indo-Pak tension, ICJ to hold public hearings in Jadhav case from today:
Amidst fresh Indo-Pak tensions, top legal eagles of the two countries will present their arguments in the high-profile Kulbhushan Jadhav case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague from Monday during four days of public hearings.
Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017.
India moved the ICJ in May the same year against the “farcical trial” by the military court of Pakistan against 48-year-old Jadhav.
India first approached the ICJ on May 8, 2017 for the “egregious violation” of the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963 by Pakistan by repeatedly denying it consular access to Jadhav.
A 10-member bench of the ICJ, which was set up after World War II to resolve international disputes, on May 18, 2017 had restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case.
The ICJ has set a timetable for the public hearing in the high-profile case from Febraury 18 to 21 in The Hague.
The hearings at the ICJ will take place four days after one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 41 CRPF soldiers. The terror attack happened when a suicide bomber of Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad blew up an explosive-laden vehicle near a convoy of CRPF buses in Pulwama district on Thursday.
India on Friday summoned the Pakistan high commissioner to issue a very strong demarche over the terror attack. On Saturday, India hiked the customs duty to 200 per cent on all goods imported from Pakistan, following revocation of the Most Favoured Nation status following the Pulwama attack.
Former solicitor general Harish Salve is expected to represent India while Pakistan will be represented by Barrister Khawar Qureshi at the ICJ.
While India will argue first on February 18, Pakistan will get its chance to make submissions on February 19. Then India will reply on February 20 while Islamabad will make its closing submissions on February 21.
It is expected that the ICJ’s decision may be delivered by the summer of 2019. — PTI
Source: Rediff