Happy that Defence Minister has accepted mistake: BJP

August 8, 2013

Defence_MinisterNew Delhi, Aug 8: With A K Antony speaking of involvement of Pakistani troops in the LoC attack, BJP today came out in support of the government on the response over the killing of Indian soldiers, saying it was happy that the Defence Minister has accepted his mistake and rectified it.

"We are happy that the Defence Minister has accepted his mistake and tried to rectify it...He has said the Pakistan Army was involved and that our restraint should not be taken for granted," Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said soon after Antony's fresh statement in the House.

Taking on Congress, Swaraj suggested that those who had alleged BJP was playing politics over the killing of five Indian soldiers were wrong and they should know that the party was trying to get corrected the Defence Minister's statement made on August 6.

Swaraj said the Opposition was not playing politics but wanted to express the commitment of the nation on the issue and send a message to Pakistan that it cannot commit such acts again.

"The Opposition supports your statement and we have been successful in saying in one voice that Pakistan cannot resort to such acts," she said, telling the government that it should ensure that such a mistake is not repeated.

While Swaraj signalled that the issue was over for BJP, NDA ally Shiv Sena expressed dissatisfaction with Antony's statement.

Sena leader Anant Geete said India cannot hold talks with Pakistan in such a situation.

Prabhunath Singh, who recently returned to Lok Sabha as a RJD member, said four of the soldiers killed were from Bihar and wanted to have his say. At one point he even trooped into the Well to draw the attention of the Speaker.

Yashwant Sinha (BJP) sought to know as to why the Defence Minister has left the House.

The Speaker said that no questions are allowed after the minister's statement.

Even Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP), Shailendra Kumar (SP) and Basudeb Acharia (CPI-M) also wanted a discussion on the issue.

"We may have a discussion if you give a notice," the Speaker said.

Singh insisted on speaking on the issue but the Speaker adjourned the House as several members were on their feet expressing dissatisfaction over Antony's clarification.

Antony made the statement today after the Opposition created an uproar yesterday over his contention that some persons wearing Pakistan army uniforms had killed the five soldiers at the LoC.

The matter came up during the Prime Minister's meeting yesterday with the BJP top brass. BJP had raised the issue upon which the government assured it that Antony will make a statement in the House.

Prabhunath Singh (RJD) demanded that the House pass a resolution condemning the killing of Indian jawans.

"What action is India proposing to take (in the wake of this incident)... There should be a resolution condemning the incident," he said.

Singh alleged that when the bodies arrived there was no state government representatives at the Patna airport to receive them.

Some other members too wanted to discuss the attack.

As uproar continued, the House was adjourned for the day.

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News Network
February 27,2020

New Delhi, Feb 27: The death toll in the communal violence in northeast Delhi over the amended citizenship law reached 32 on Thursday, senior officials said.

It was at 27 till Wednesday night.

"Five more deaths recorded at GTB Hospital, so death toll at that hospital has gone up to 30, taking total toll to 32," a senior Delhi Health Department official told news agency.

The Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital had reported two fatalities on Wednesday.

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News Network
January 30,2020

Mumbai, Jan 30: The Shiv Sena on Thursday endorsed Union home minister Amit Shah's view that alleged inflammatory statements made by Sharjeel Imam, an anti- Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) activist, were dangerous.

No politics should be done on the issue, and such "pest" afflicting the country should be finished off, it said.

Imam was arrested on Tuesday in connection with his speeches at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi and in Aligarh during anti-CAA protests.

He has been booked for sedition, among other offences.

In an editorial published in its mouthpiece `Saamana', the Sena, a former ally of the BJP, said, "We agree with union home minister's comments that Sharjeel Imam's alleged words of separation are more dangerous than that of Kanhaiya Kumar."

Kumar, former student leader from Jawaharlal Nehru University, had been arrested over alleged separatist slogans shouted during a protest on varsity campus.

The Sena, which has formed alliance with the Congress and NCP to come to power in Maharashtra, is often seen walking a tightrope to preserve its credentials as a pro-Hindutva party.

"The union home ministry, while initiating action against Imam, should not indulge in politics and try to finish off this pest that is afflicting our country," the editorial said.

"One must find out why such language of breaking up this country into pieces is being used by the educated youth of this country more and more frequently. Who is spewing such venom into the mind of Sharjeel who did his graduation from IIT-B and now pursuing PhD from JNU?" the Sena asked.

"Even people involved in Elgar Parishad at Pune are facing sedition charges and these people have been known as intellectuals and are well-known personalities," said the party.

"A conspiracy to bring about a conflict between Hindus and Muslims and ensure continuance of anarchy and civil war as in Iraq and Afghanistan exists. The boost for such activities is coming from a 'political laboratory'," the editorial said.

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News Network
June 1,2020

Jun 1: Gold prices rose on Monday as riots in major U.S. cities rattled investors already reeling from strained Sino-U.S. relations and boosted demand for the safe-haven metal, with a weaker dollar lending further support.

Spot gold gained 0.8% to $1,739.75 per ounce by 0242 GMT. U.S. gold futures ticked up 0.1% to $1,752.60.

"Concerns about the unrest in the United States at the moment appear to be weighing on market sentiment," said Michael McCarthy, chief strategist at CMC Markets, adding that rising tensions between the world's top two economies provided further support to gold.

Protesters have flooded the streets in the United States over the death of George Floyd in police custody, in a wave of outrage sweeping a politically and racially divided nation.

The closely packed crowds and demonstrators not wearing masks have sparked fears of a resurgence of COVID-19, which has killed more than 101,000 Americans.

In Asia, China's state media and the government of Hong Kong lashed out on Sunday at U.S. President Donald Trump's pledge to end Hong Kong's special status if Beijing imposes new national security laws on the city.

Gold is often used as a safe store of value during times of political and financial uncertainty.

Indicative of sentiment, holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose 0.3% to 1,123.14 tonnes on Friday, a fresh seven-year high.

Further supporting gold's appeal, the dollar index fell 0.4% against its rivals.

Elsewhere, silver jumped 2% to $18.20 per ounce, its highest since Feb. 26, before retreating slightly to trade 1.8% higher at $18.16.

Speculators cut their bullish positions in COMEX gold and increased them in silver contracts in the week to May 26, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission said on Friday.

Palladium rose 0.7% to $1,958.25 per ounce, while platinum declined 0.3% to $835.56.

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