Latest news with #Phalagam
New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Allahabad HC denies bail to man for posts against PM, Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor
LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court has refused bail to a person accused of posting objectionable content on social media against the Prime Minister and the Indian Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor, following the Phalagam massacre. A single-judge bench, comprising Justice Arun Kumar Deshwal, observed that the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under the Constitution of India does not extend to acts that disrespect the high dignitaries of the country and create disharmony among citizens. Justice Deshwal stated that it had become a trend among certain groups to misuse social media platforms under the guise of freedom of speech by making nasty and unfounded allegations against dignitaries and spreading disharmony and hatred among communities. The petitioner, Ashraf Khan alias Nisrat, had been booked under Sections 152 and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly posting edited videos on his Facebook account during the recent India-Pakistan face-off following the Phalagam massacre. According to the prosecution, the petitioner, who had moved the High Court seeking bail, allegedly posted a video showing the Prime Minister walking next to a donkey pulling a cart carrying an aircraft, later showing him apologising to Pakistan.
India Today
10-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Did New Delhi just refute US claims on India-Pak mediation?
India and Pakistan on Sunday agreed to an unexpected ceasefire after days of military action and heightened tension along the Line of Control and the International Border, following the Phalagam terrorist attack and India's retaliatory Operation Sindoor. While the US claimed that the talks were held through its mediation, India said the discussions took place directly between the two was US President Donald Trump who announced the surprise decision, even before any indication from New Delhi or Islamabad. He claimed that the ceasefire was reached "after a long night of talks mediated by the United States".advertisement"I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter," he posted on social media. Within a minute of Trump's tweet, the White House and Vice President JD Vance also shared Turmp's Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, joined, saying "Over the past 48 hours, VP Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif", among others. He also claimed India and Pakistan have agreed to start talks on a "broad set of issues at a neutral site".TRUCE TALKS HELD DIRECTLY: INDIA ASSERTSIndia, which confirmed the ceasefire at 6 pm, stated that Pakistan had initiated the talks on Saturday evening by dialling India and that the talks were held directly between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both a cryptic message tagged with #IndiaFightsPropaganda, the government appeared to counter the US announcement that seemed to take credit for the truce, asserting that the ceasefire 'was worked out directly between the two countries'. The post also addressed Rubio's assertion that India and Pakistan had agreed to engage in broader dialogue."Stoppage of firing and military action between India and Pakistan was worked out directly between the two countries."Pak DGMO initiated the call this afternoon after which discussions took place and understanding reached."No decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place," the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting according to sources, the United States played a key role in de-escalation by exerting direct pressure on Pakistan, linking the provisional release of a $1 billion IMF loan to its immediate acceptance of the ceasefire, with the remaining amount contingent on full the US has officially recognised India's revised war doctrine, which declares that any future terrorist attack will be considered an act of targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir recently, days after Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 people -- mostly tourists -- in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The Pakistani army escalated the situation further with drone and missile attacks, which were intercepted by Indian defence systems. The surprise truce came amid fears that the conflict could spiral into a broader InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#India-Pakistan#Pakistan#Donald Trump
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First Post
01-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Bangladesh should occupy NE states if India attacks Pakistan': Yunus aide on Pahalgam
In a Facebook post, Major General (retired) ALM Fazlur Rahman has said that Bangladesh should occupy India's seven northeast states if it attacks Pakistan in response to Phalagam terror attack read more A senior official appointed by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has said that Bangladesh should occupy India's seven northeast states if it attacks Pakistan in response to Phalagam terror attack. The remark made by Major General (retired) ALM Fazlur Rahman — the chairperson of the National Independent Commission of Inquiry probing the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) massacre — on Facebook comes at a time when Dhaka's ties with New Delhi has seen a downturn after ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy seven states of North East India. In this regard, I think it is necessary to start a discussion on a joint military system with China,' Rahman said in a Facebook post in Bengali on Tuesday. The post received a 'like' from fellow commission member Shahnawaz Khan Chandan, a former member of the Islamist student organization Islami Chhatra Shibir. According to a report by The Print, Chandan, currently an assistant professor at Jagannath University in Dhaka, is reportedly someone whom Yunus is said to have placed 'complete trust' in. The timing of the post is significant, coming amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. In a series of retaliatory measures, India has suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, shut down the Attari post, and downgraded diplomatic ties. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has moved closer to Pakistan following Sheikh Hasina's exit. The two countries held their first foreign secretary-level talks in nearly 15 years this month in Dhaka, focusing on bilateral and historical issues. The dialogue follows quiet diplomatic overtures, including relaxed visa norms and discussions on 1971-related grievances. A visit by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is expected but remains on hold amid rising regional tensions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Who is Fazlur Rahman? Fazlur Rahman, a retired army officer, led the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) during the 2001 border clashes with India, in which 16 BSF personnel were killed. Now elevated to a position equivalent to a Supreme Court appellate division judge, Rahman has pledged to expose the 'foreign conspiracy' behind the 2009 Pilkhana massacre. Claiming the original probe into the BDR mutiny concealed critical truths, Rahman has said, 'We aim to determine whether any foreign entity was involved in the carnage,' hinting at alleged Indian involvement. His latest remarks are likely to add to growing friction with New Delhi. They come shortly after Yunus, declared in a meeting with Chinese officials that Bangladesh — not India — is the true gateway to South Asia. 'The eastern part of India, known as the Seven Sisters, is landlocked. They have no access to the ocean. We are the only guardians of the ocean in this region. This opens up huge possibilities,' Yunus said in a video of the meeting that has since gone viral. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He also added that Bangladesh could act as 'an extension of the Chinese economy—building, producing, and marketing goods for China and the world.' With inputs from agencies
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Watch: Pahalgam attack updates, PM Modi chairs CCS meet, public pay tributes to Pope Francis & more
From the latest updates on the Pahalgam terrorist attack to the World Bank cutting India's growth rate, here are the top headlines of the day. Forces continue massive manhunt for the assailants Indian forces launched a massive manhunt to find the perpetrators who shot and killed at least 26 tourists in the scenic the Bisaran Valley near Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on April 22. This is one of the worst terror attack on civilians in the Kashmir valley in decades. Tens of thousands of armed police and soldiers fanned out across the region and erected additional checkpoints. They searched cars and in some areas summoned former militants to police stations for questioning, reports said. Many shops and businesses in Jammu and Kashmir closed to protest the killings. Security agencies also released sketches of three men suspected to be involved in the attack. The men, all three Pakistanis, are Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah and Abu Talha, officials said. They had code names -- Moosa, Yunus and Asif -- and were involved in terror related incidents in Poonch. Authorities are working on a plan to have a permanent deployment of army and paramilitary forces in the mountains overlooking the tourist destination in the Kashmir valley to avoid such attacks in the future. Officials told PTI that a realignment of the security forces was also required ahead of the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, which begins July 3. There are no security forces in the immediate vicinity of the meadows of the Bisaran Valley which is ringed by dense forests. The nearest is a unit of the third battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles of the Army and a company of the 116th battalion of the CRPF, the sources told PTI. It takes time for the troops to reach this place from their locations and Bisaran is only approachable on foot or on horseback, they said. Meanwhile, the government announced additional flights will be operated from Srinagar to help tourists who want to return from the Union territory in the aftermath of the Phalagam terror attack. The government said that the airfares on the route would be kept at reasonable levels. As many as 3,337 passengers flew out of Srinagar in 20 flights between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet are operating a total of seven extra flights in addition to their normal scheduled services from Srinagar. PM Modi chairs meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security, Amit Shah in visits attack site The Cabinet Committee on Security met in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides the prime minister, the Cabinet Committee on Security comprises Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Sitharaman is on her way back from the United States after she cut short her official visit. PM Modi cut short his visit from Saudi Arabia and returned early Wednesday. He held a meeting at the airport soon after his arrival and discussed the attack with Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistry was also part of the meeting. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the site of the terrorist attack and interacted with senior army and police officers. He was given a briefing by security officials. The home minister was told about the sequence of events and the possible routes the terrorists took to reach the popular tourist spot, which is surrounded by thick pine forests, PTI reported. Top officers, including Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Nalin Prabhat and GoC of the Army's 15 Corps Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava, were present at the site, which is around 110 km from Srinagar. He also took an aerial view of the area. Earlier, the Home Minister attended a wreath-laying ceremony for the victims of the terror attack at the police control room in Srinagar where he asserted that the country will not bend to terror and that those responsible for the killings will not be spared. He visited Government Medical College Hospital in Anantnag and met some of the injured admitted there. The Home Minister was accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Tangmarg area of Kulgam following information about the presence of ultras there. An encounter broke out after the terrorists opened fire on the security personnel, officials said. No casualties have been reported in the exchange of fire so far, at the time of recording. Earlier today, two terrorists were killed as an infiltration bid was foiled along the Line of Control in Baramulla. The security forces are on high alert after yesterday's terror attack. India, U.S. trade talks to being in Washington from today Indian and U.S. officials will begin deliberations on the proposed bilateral trade agreement in Washington from today. The U.S. has stated that the pact with India will help open new markets for American goods and create new opportunities for workers, farmers, and entrepreneurs in both countries. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who is on a four-day visit to India, said he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi made progress on trade talks during their discussions on Monday, and confirmed that both sides had finalized the terms of reference for the trade negotiation — a vital step towards setting the road map for the final agreement. The terms of reference cover around 19 chapters, such as tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and customs facilitation. An official said these talks would lead to the formal launch of negotiations for the bilateral trade agreement (BTA). India's chief negotiator, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal, is leading the team for the first in-person talks between the two countries. Meanwhile, Vance, accompanied by his family, visited the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra today. He was received by U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. On his first day of visit, Vance held a meeting with Modi where both of them discussed ways to increase cooperation in energy, defence and strategic technologies. The family will leave India on April 24. Pope Francis' body transferred to St. Peter's Basilica for 3 days of public viewing The body of Pope Francis was transferred from the Vatican hotel where he lived to the St. Peter's basilica, escorted by a procession of solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards through the same piazza where the pontiff had greeted the faithful from his popemobile just days before. Pallbearers carried the simple wooden coffin on their shoulders through the Vatican's archway gates, out into St. Peter's Square and into the basilica, the cardinals in their scarlet cassocks, bishops in their purple robes and the Swiss Guards in their golden and blue uniforms processing slowly behind. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is running the Vatican temporarily until a new pope is elected, led the procession, with clouds of incense preceding him as the church choir chanted the Litany of Saints hymn. The three days of public viewing in the basilica will allow ordinary Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old pope, who died on Monday after suffering a stroke. The basilica would be kept open until midnight to accommodate the crowds and the mourning period will end on Friday at 7 p.m., when Francis' casket is closed and sealed. Several heads of state are expected to attend the Pope's funeral which is set for Saturday in St. Peter's Square. Francis' death and funeral inaugurates a carefully orchestrated period of transition in the 1.4-billion-strong Catholic Church. Cardinals will gather and enter into a conclave, which is a secretive ritual voting in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. There are 135 cardinals under age 80 and eligible to vote in the conclave, and the new pontiff will likely come from within their ranks. The conclave is not expected to begin before May 5. World Bank lowers India's growth forecast The World Bank has lowered India's growth forecast for the current fiscal by 4 percentage points to 6.3% amid global economic weakness and policy uncertainty. In its previous estimate, the World Bank had projected India's growth at 6.7% for the fiscal year 2025-26. In India, growth in FY24-25 disappointed because of slower growth in private investment and public capital expenditures that did not meet government targets, the World Bank said in its twice-yearly regional outlook. On Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund also lowered India's GDP forecast for the current fiscal to 6.2% from its January estimates of 6.5%.
Mint
23-04-2025
- Mint
Airlines operate addl flights to Srinagar; govt says fares being kept at reasonable levels
New Delhi, Apr 23 (PTI) The government on Wednesday announced additional flights will be operated from Srinagar and that airfares on the route are being kept at reasonable levels amid a large number of tourists looking to return from J&K in the aftermath of the Phalagam terror attack. As many as 3,337 passengers flew out of Srinagar in 20 flights between 6 am and 12 pm on Wednesday. IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet are operating a total of seven extra flights in addition to their normal scheduled services from Srinagar. At least 26 people, mostly tourists, died in the Phalagam terror attack. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday said that strict instructions were given to airline companies to avoid any fare surges, and that fares are being monitored and kept at reasonable levels. His comments also came against the backdrop of some websites apparently showing ticket prices of over ₹ 50,000 for flights to Srinagar. The country's largest airline IndiGo said that in view of the emergent situation, it has taken steps to keep the fares moderated. The minister also emphasised that constant efforts are being made to ensure safe travel of tourists from Srinagar. "In addition to the four extra flights already announced, three more flights to Delhi have been added for today -- IndiGo 6E 3203 (Dep: 1700, Arr: 1800), IndiGo 6E 3103 (Dep: 1800, Arr: 1930), and a SpiceJet flight scheduled to depart at 10:30 PM," he said in a post on X. All airlines operating from Srinagar have waived cancellation and rescheduling charges to support passengers. "Food and water are being provided at the airport, and an extra tent has been set up outside for those waiting. Between 6 am and 12 pm today, Srinagar Airport handled 20 departures with 3,337 pax," Naidu said. The minister also said that he is personally monitoring the situation and is in constant touch with the home ministry as well as airline operators. In an advisory on Wednesday, DGCA said that in the aftermath of the incident in Pahalgam, there is an unexpected demand from tourists seeking to return to their homes. "In this regard, the airlines are advised to take swift action to increase the number of flights in response to heightened demand and also to ensure uninterrupted connectivity from Srinagar to various destinations across India, facilitating evacuation of stranded tourists," it said. According to the advisory, airlines have also been asked to provide all necessary assistance to tourists facing unexpected circumstances and challenges during this difficult time. IndiGo said that to support those travelling to/from Srinagar, it is offering waivers for cancellation fees or rescheduling charges. "IndiGo has added special flights to Srinagar from Delhi and Mumbai with immediate effect and will be operating these over and above the regular schedule of 160 weekly flights from / to Srinagar from various parts of India," the airline, which operates 20 flights daily connecting Srinagar with various Indian cities, said in a statement. Air India is operating one additional flight each from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai. It has five flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Srinagar daily. The airline is also offering complimentary rescheduling and full refunds on cancellations to passengers with confirmed bookings till April 30 on these sectors, according to a post on X. SpiceJet, in a post on X, said it is operating an additional flight and also extending waivers on rescheduling and cancellations for Srinagar flights till April 30. It will be applicable for bookings made on or before April 22. Akasa Air, in a post on X, said passengers who wish to cancel their bookings will be provided with a full refund at no additional charge for all flights departing between April 23 and 29 to/from Srinagar. "Guests booked to travel on Air India Express flights from or to Srinagar until 30th April 2025 are being offered the flexibility to reschedule their travel with a complete waiver of date change fees and fare difference," the airline said in a post on X. According to the airline, passengers may also opt to cancel their bookings and receive a full refund to their original mode of payment. Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) President and Nomad Travels CEO Ajay Prakash said in the short term, tourism in J&K will take a significant hit due to the attack. "As TAFI, we pledge to support tourism in J&K, and we are confident that it will recover very quickly," he said. First Published: 23 Apr 2025, 04:13 PM IST
