Narendra Modi targets Pakistan at Lucknow Dussehra rally: ‘Those who shield terrorists cannot be spared’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a strong anti-terror message during his address at the Dussehra Mahotsav rally in Lucknow. Modi attacked Pakistan in a veiled manner, saying that action should also be taken against the ‘supporters of terror’. Describing terrorism as the enemy of humanity, Modi said that is imperative upon the 125 crore Indians to tackle the threat of terrorism. The Prime Minister urged people to recall the valour exhibited Ramayana character Jatayu, who unsuccessfully attempted to battle Ravana at the time the demon was abducting Sita.

Hitting out specifically at Pakistan, Modi said, “Those who shield terrorists cannot be spared”. In what appeared to be another veiled warning to Pakistan, Modi added, “As the Ramayana bears testimony, war is sometimes necessary.” The remarks of Indian Prime Minister struck with the crowd who received the message with huge applause. Chants of Jai Shri Ram erupted at the Aishbagh in Lucknow, where the Dussehra Mahotsav was being held.

Describing terrorism as the greatest evil of this era, Modi expressed sorrow over the condition of children and civilians in Syria. “Tears get filled in my eye when I watch the condition of Syrian children. This terrorism has no boundaries. No nation is safe. The world needs to unite and fight against this evil,” Modi said. Modi recalled an incident of 1992, when a United States diplomat shunned off his suggestion that world needs to take a tough stance against terrorism. “In 1992-93, I was talking to someone from US Department of State on terrorism. They said it is your ‘law and order’ problem. That changed after 26/11,” Modi recalled.

Apart from speaking on the issue of terrorism, Prime Minister Modi also stressed on the eradication of other manifestation of Ravana from the society. “Filth, poverty, corruption and illiteracy are another form of Ravana, so lets burn them as well this year. Everyone should take the resolve of eradicating the Ravana from himself, and from all spheres of the society.

Declaring Masood Azhar a ‘global terrorist’: Why is China blocking India’s proposal before UNSC?

In the past week, China extended its veto against India’s move to declare Maulana Masood Azhar a global terrorist. Using technical grounds, China has once again extended the hold. Defending the decision taken by China, Beijing’s Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong cited ‘differing views’. Baodong accused India of scoring political points by pushing such a proposal before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He further added that India should  not pursue its own political goals using the agenda of counterterrorism. The justification given by China has rattled the Indian establishment. Even the most hardline opinion makers in Pakistan could not give a rational justification to prove why Masood Azhar cannot be categorized as a terrorist. The decision taken by China is void of logic as Masood Azhar’s outfit, Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) has already been designated as a ‘terror group’ by the United Nations.

The reason why China is blocking India’s proposal before UNSC is purely geopolitical. Since Pakistan is it’s time trusted ally in South Asia, the communist nation is taking all steps necessary to diplomatically counter India’s assault. According to China’s Permanent Representative to UN Liu Jieyi, Masood Azhar does not qualify to be declared a terrorist under the United Nations 1267 Sanctions Committee. The panel was formed in 1999 to declare Al Qaeda and Taliban as global terrorist groups since they were providing safe haven to Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.

To declare an individual or group as a ‘global terrorist’, the UNSC needs to adhere to 1267 Sanctions Committee rule. Any individual who gets designated as a global terrorist will have all his financial accounts freezed. Member nations would be instructed to raid all his properties and assets. Pakistan would be further nailed under global pressure to arrest Masood Azhar.

Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba suffered maximum damage in surgical strikes

Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashker-e-Taiba(LeT) suffered the maximum damage in the cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror launch pads carried out by Indian army with assessment reports of radio intercepts indicating that around 20 of its militants were killed. The assessment reports available from Indian army field units which included radio conversations between various Pakistani formations showed maximum damage was inflicted on LeT, a banned terror group, at Dudniyal launch pad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, opposite to Kupwara sector of North Kashmir, according to sources in the know of details of the recent surgical strikes.

91 dead in Kashmir: Amid India-Pakistan war euphoria, Valley still remains burning

On the 92nd day of the Kashmir unrest, another civilian casualty was reported. A 12-year-old boy, identified as Junaid Ahmad Akhoon, was laid to rest after he succumbed to the injuries sustained at the hands of security forces. Junaid was struck with pellet bullets on Friday, October 7. On Saturday morning, he was declared dead at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Soura. A large crowd gathered at the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar to attend the boy’s funeral. Loud slogans were raised against India, amid chants of ‘azaadi’. With the demise of the 12-year-old, the death toll in the Valley has escalated to 91, as per reports. Subsequently, protests erupted in several regions of South Kashmir, including Saidpora, Soura, Shopian and Aanchal. In order to curb the rejuvenated anger among the public, fresh c

Surgical strikes aftermath: Pakistan violated ceasefire 25 times last week! Here are the details

A week after Indian Army conducted surgical strikes and destroyed seven launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Pakistan has stepped up cross-border firing and violated ceasefire at the Line of Control for at least 25 times. As Indian Army jawans are on high alert following the protocols issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, Pakistan is left red-faced on the international forum as not a single country has come forward to support them. Also in the wake of the increasing ceasefire violations at the LoC, the Border Security Force (BSF) has increased vigilance and had also deployed more troops at the international border (IB). People living near the border areas along the LoC, especially those living in Punjab’s International Border, have been evacuated and moved to safer places. In 2015, Pakistan violated ceasefire for at least 405 times in which 16 civilians were killed and 71 others were injured. Out of 405, 253 incidents of ceasefire violations took place along the IB and 152 incidents were reported along the LoC.

Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane reacts to Uri attack, while Fawad Khan is still quiet!

Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane, who debuted with the movie Sanam Teri Kasam in Bollywood, has reacted to the Uri attack in India’s Jammu and Kashmir state. The Uri attack was carried out by militants allegedly trained by Pakistan. The attack killed 19 Indian soldiers who were sleeping – some were burnt to death. This resulted in nationwide furore and everybody started condemning Pakistan and its actors and singers who regularly get work in Bollywood. Even as open letters were written to the most loved Pakistani actor in India currently, Fawad Khan, on his silence on the Uri attack, a nationwide debate began whether artistes from the neighbouring country should be allowed to work in India or not. Pakistani actress Mahira Khan finally reacted to the India-Pakistan conflict by resharing a post by Pakistani girl Alizay Jaffer, preaching love and peace. And now, Mawra Hocane has also reacted to the Uri attack on India. She said on Twitter, “I strongly condemn all terror attacks We must realise that a life lost is a LIFE LOST!The world needs to stand together against terrorism!”

Surgical Strikes: Why Arvind Kejriwal’s demand for evidence holds merit

There has been a lot of talk about whether India should release evidence of the surgical strikes or not. With the Indian Army giving the green signal to the government to release the footage of the strikes, it is now solely a matter of how careful or how bold the Narendra Modi government can dare to be. Besides the obvious dangers of the releasing the evidence that have been highlighted by the experts, many have raised questions on the doubt itself. Any one and every one treating the surgical strikes with skepticism, is being branded as anti-national, as happened with Sanjay Nirupam and Arvind Kejriwal. Although, one can easily write-off Nirupam’s attempts at nay saying, Kejriwal’s appeal to the PM holds merit.