India will raise Gurdaspur attacks at meeting
Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz on Thursday announced that he would visit India on August 23 for talks with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval. The decision to hold the NSA-level talks was taken during a meeting in July between the prime ministers of the neighbouring nations on the sidelines of a conference in the Russian city of Ufa. Indian officials said that they would pass on evidence to Pakistan regarding the three militants who carried out an attack in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab last month. India will also bring up the issue of Mohammed Naved Yakub, a Pakistani militant arrested by security forces after he and his accomplices ambushed a Border Security Force convoy in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5. Last week, Aziz had said that Pakistan wanted a constructive, sustained and unconditional dialogue with India on all issues of mutual concern, including Kashmir.
Setback for India's UN Security Council bid
India's bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council suffered a setback on Thursday after the United States, Russia and China opposed negotiations in the reformation process of the UN body and refused to contribute to a text that forms the basis of the reform process. US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said that the country was opposed to "any alteration or expansion" of the Security Council's permanent members' veto power. Supporting the United States' position, Russia called on the UN to allow the reform negotiations to be "free from artificial deadlines". Both countries had earlier expressed their support for including India as a permanent member.
Modi criticises Congress for stalling Parliament
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday criticised the Congress for disturbing the proceedings of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha throughout the Monsoon session. Modi equated Congress’ Parliamentary strategy to the Emergency of 1975-1977, saying that the party wanted "power to remain concentrated with one family”. The National Democratic Alliance’s Parliamentary Party also passed a resolution against the disruptions in Parliament , saying that it would carry out a month-long campaign against the Congress. The opposition had refused to allow Parliament to function unless several Union and state Chief Ministers submitted their resignations over various corruption charges.
RSS capturing educational institutions, says Rahul
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that educational institutions were falling under the control of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, adding that only people who praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi were being given top public offices in the education sector. Protesting the appointment of appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the Chairperson of the Film and Television Institute of India, Gandhi accused the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party of politicising education. The opposition leader's remarks came after he led a delegation of Congress leaders to President Pranab Mukherjee to protest against the appointment of Chauhan as FTII chairperson.
NIA takes Udhampur militant to Delhi
The National Investigation Agency on Thursday transported a militant captured by security forces after an attack in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir to New Delhi for further interrogation. Mohammed Naved Yakub was moved to the Joint Interrogation Centre at Miran Sahib in Jammu before being taken to New Delhi. Naved had been captured during an attack on a Border Security Force convoy last week. Officials said Naved made calls to Pakistan using using Voice over Internet Protocol services to communicate with his handlers. Eleven people have been detained in connection with the case so far.
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Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz on Thursday announced that he would visit India on August 23 for talks with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval. The decision to hold the NSA-level talks was taken during a meeting in July between the prime ministers of the neighbouring nations on the sidelines of a conference in the Russian city of Ufa. Indian officials said that they would pass on evidence to Pakistan regarding the three militants who carried out an attack in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab last month. India will also bring up the issue of Mohammed Naved Yakub, a Pakistani militant arrested by security forces after he and his accomplices ambushed a Border Security Force convoy in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5. Last week, Aziz had said that Pakistan wanted a constructive, sustained and unconditional dialogue with India on all issues of mutual concern, including Kashmir.
Setback for India's UN Security Council bid
India's bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council suffered a setback on Thursday after the United States, Russia and China opposed negotiations in the reformation process of the UN body and refused to contribute to a text that forms the basis of the reform process. US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said that the country was opposed to "any alteration or expansion" of the Security Council's permanent members' veto power. Supporting the United States' position, Russia called on the UN to allow the reform negotiations to be "free from artificial deadlines". Both countries had earlier expressed their support for including India as a permanent member.
Modi criticises Congress for stalling Parliament
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday criticised the Congress for disturbing the proceedings of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha throughout the Monsoon session. Modi equated Congress’ Parliamentary strategy to the Emergency of 1975-1977, saying that the party wanted "power to remain concentrated with one family”. The National Democratic Alliance’s Parliamentary Party also passed a resolution against the disruptions in Parliament , saying that it would carry out a month-long campaign against the Congress. The opposition had refused to allow Parliament to function unless several Union and state Chief Ministers submitted their resignations over various corruption charges.
RSS capturing educational institutions, says Rahul
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that educational institutions were falling under the control of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, adding that only people who praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi were being given top public offices in the education sector. Protesting the appointment of appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the Chairperson of the Film and Television Institute of India, Gandhi accused the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party of politicising education. The opposition leader's remarks came after he led a delegation of Congress leaders to President Pranab Mukherjee to protest against the appointment of Chauhan as FTII chairperson.
NIA takes Udhampur militant to Delhi
The National Investigation Agency on Thursday transported a militant captured by security forces after an attack in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir to New Delhi for further interrogation. Mohammed Naved Yakub was moved to the Joint Interrogation Centre at Miran Sahib in Jammu before being taken to New Delhi. Naved had been captured during an attack on a Border Security Force convoy last week. Officials said Naved made calls to Pakistan using using Voice over Internet Protocol services to communicate with his handlers. Eleven people have been detained in connection with the case so far.