National

Indian Foreign Minister cancels US meeting over Kashmir crit...

( India )

New Delhi:India’s foreign minister has “abruptly cancelled” a meeting with senior United States Congress legislators after his demand to exclude a congresswoman critical of India over Kashmir was rejected, according to a report. Citing congressional aides, The Washington Post on Friday reported that Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was scheduled to meet members of the US Congress Foreign Affairs Committee, which included Democratic leader Pramila Jayapal. The Post said Jayapal is sponsoring...

India passes controversial Citizenship bill that excludes Mu...

( India )

New Delhi:India’s parliament has passed a bill that would give Indian citizenship to immigrants from three neighboring countries but not if they are Muslim. The controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) will fast-track citizenship for religious minorities, including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Opposition parties say the bill is unconstitutional as it bases citizenship on a person’s religion and would further marginalize...

Supreme Court judge raises referendum in Article 370 case...

( India )

New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Surya Kant caused a stir in the courtroom on Wednesday when he mentioned “referendum” while seeking to know how the government of India could have ascertained will of the people of former state of J&K in the absence of an elected assembly. Kant made the remark while hearing a host of petitions challenging the validity of the government actions stripping the state of its special status and bifurcating it into two union territories as part of a five-judge bench...

Indian Army gets new US assault rifles in Kashmir Valley...

( Jammu and Kashmir )

New Delhi: In a major boost in defense system in Jammu and Kashmir and on the Line of Control (LoC), the Indian Army has started inducting its newly acquired American SiG Sauer assault rifles in operations. In addition, the Indian Army has also started getting supplies of ammunition for its sniper rifles as more than 21 lakh rounds have been ordered from vendors. “The first lot of 10,000 SiG 716 assault rifles has arrived in India and has been sent to the Northern Command,” top Indian...

PM Modi offered for Joint Work, I rejected says Sharad Pawar...

( India )

New Delhi:CP chief Sharad Pawar has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed “working together” but he rejected the offer. Pawar made the claim in an interview to a Marathi TV channel on Monday. “Modi had offered me to work together. I told him that our personal relations are very good and they will remain that way but it is not possible for me to work together,” Pawar said. Pawar dismissed reports that Modi government offered to make him India’s President. “But...

Ayodhya-Babri Masjid Verdict:Land must be given to Hindus fo...

( India )

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Saturday paved the way for the construction of a Ram Temple by a Trust at the disputed site at Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot an alternative 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a new mosque at a “prominent” place in the holy town in Uttar Pradesh In a bid to put an end to the more than a century old dispute that has torn the social fabric of the nation, the court in a unanimous 5-0 verdict ruled that the 2.77 acres of disputed land...

Phone, internet shutdown in J&K ‘illegal and unconsti...

( India )

New Delhi:Notifications and orders shutting down mobile, landline and internet services in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 were “illegal and unconstitutional”, the Supreme Court was told Tuesday. A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana was told that even after 90 days, communication services — data, internet, pre-paid mobiles and SMS — were not operational in the Kashmir Valley, affecting the working of the media. Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing...

Opposition Leaders Slammed Modi government over EU delegatio...

( Jammu and Kashmir )

New Delhi:Leaders of opposition political parties attacked central government for allowing a foreign delegation of European Union MP`s to Kashmir. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has also joined other opposition leaders in attacking the government for allowing a foreign delegation of European Union MPs to visit Kashmir. She said, “European MPs in Kashmir allowed to visit and intervene, but Indian MPs and leaders were sent back from the airport as soon as they arrived! This is a very unique...

India Has Given World Peace, Not War, Says Modi in UN Genera...

( India )

Geneva:In a strong message against terror, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the UN General Assembly Sept. 27 that India has given the world the message of peace, “Buddha,” and not war, “yuddh,” and that is why its voice not only carries seriousness when it alerts the world against terrorism, but anger too — in an oblique reference to the terrorism wrought in India by Pakistan-backed elements. Addressing the 74th UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Modi also said that a “world...

Over 500 academics, scientists call for an end of curfew in ...

( India )

New Delhi: Over 500 academics and scientists released a statement on expressing their deep concern about the crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, over a month-and-a-half since the Indian government abrogated special status for the state under Article 370 of the Constitution. Jammu and Kashmir has been under a curfew since August 5, when its special status was scrapped. National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, leader Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti have been put under detention,...